Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports
CHARLESTON — State championships for Pope County senior Ahry Comer and Nashville freshman Makayla Gajewski highlighted the area medals haul at the Girls State Track and Field championships in Charleston.
Comer wrapped up her high school career with state medals number 10 and 11–a second place finish in the 1A 800 meters and the 400 state championship. The LSU signee finishes with eight track and field medals, including four state championships, to go with three cross country medals.
Gajewski meanwhile had the best throw in the shot put during Thursday’s preliminaries, and it that stood through Saturday’s finals, making her the program’s first individual to win a state title.
Gajewski’s teammate, Emma Behrmann, also earned a piece of school history, becoming the first first in program history to medal in four events. Behrmann finished ninth in the long jump, sixth in the 300 hurdles, fifth in the triple jump, and anchored the Hornettes’ 4×400 relay that finished fifth, with a new school record time of 4:08.57.
Hamilton County senior Desirae Dockery was tenth after prelims in the long jump, but she made a massive move in the finals, finishing third.
Murphysboro freshman Shameria Joshua-Ayers was the top 2A medalist, finishing third in the high jump, while Mt. Vernon’s Kamaree Pollard won two medals–finishing fourth in the triple jump and seventh in the 200 meters.
Herrin’s Karli Mann had a tough day in the finals of the triple jump, scratching on all three attempts. Her preliminary jump was good enough to finish sixth. Mann becomes the first girl in Tigers history to medal all four years.
Three other area 2A athletes posted top five finishes: Benton’s Gemma Kinkade in the long jump, Harrisburg’s Kaylee King in the discus, and Du Quoin’s Issy Phillips in the 300 hurdles.
Below is a list of all the area medalists. Complete state results are here.
1A State Medalists
Champions
Makayla Gajewski, Nashville–Shot Put (12.11m)
Ahry Comer, Pope Co.–400m (55.19)
Elena Rybak, Father McGivney–800m (2:10.06)/1600M (4:54.07)
Father McGivney–4×400 (3:56.97)/4×800 (9:30.01)/Team Overall (56.5)
2nd
Ahry Comer, Pope Co.–800m (2:12.63)
3rd
Desirae Dockery, Hamilton Co.–Long Jump (5.35m)
5th
Emma Behrmann, Nashville–Triple Jump (10.93m)
Nashville–4×400 (4:08.57)
6th
Emma Behrmann, Nashville–300m Hurdles (47.28)
Okawville–4×100 (50.61)
7th
Rayna Persinger, North Clay–Long Jump (5.25m)
Lydia Luechtefeld, Okawville–300m Hurdles (48.09)
8th
Caroline Tepe, Okawville–800m (2:19.35)
Okawville–4×400 (4:10.25)
9th
Emma Behrmann, Nashville–Long Jump (5.18m)
Alyssa Statler, Okawville–100m Hurdles (18.09)
2A State Medalists
3rd
Shameria Joshua-Ayers, Murphysboro–High Jump (1.58m)
4th
Kamaree Pollard, Mt. Vernon–Triple Jump (11.20m)
5th
Kaylee King, Harrisburg–Discus (36.51m)
Gemma Kinkade, Benton–Long Jump (5.15m)
Issy Phillips, Du Quoin–300m Hurdles (46.94)
6th
McCayla Rowatt, Marion–Pole Vault (3.25m)
Karli Mann, Herrin–Triple Jump (11.10m)
7th
Kamaree Pollard, Mt. Vernon–200m (25.08)
8th
CeCe Franks, Harrisburg–Pole Vault (3.10m)
