Two years ago, the Liberty Christian girls’ and boys’ track programs didn’t exist.

In just their second seasons, however, both programs have gone from anonymity to prominence, winning Missouri Christian Schools Athletic Association (MCSAA) Division I state championships, which took place last Friday and Saturday in Joplin.

On the girls’ side, the Eagles amassed 191 points to outdistance the 135 scored by the Daniel Academy easily.

Junior Laila Barron, who competed in the high jump, the long jump, the 4x100-meter and the 4x200 relays, said the team’s selfless efforts made all the difference.

“It feels great to be a part of the state team,” Barron said. “I know how hard everyone worked to get here. Track isn't just physically (exhausting); it's also mentally, and to be able to break through those barriers is really impressive, and that is what our team did this year.”

Among the top six finishers who earned points for the girls was sophomore Addelyn Scheltens. She won the 3,200 meters in 16 minutes, 28.17 seconds. Her other finishes were fourth (3:07.28) in the 800 and sixth (7:15.59) in the 1,600. Freshman Morgan Boenker, who ran third (20.72) in the 100 hurdles and third (54.46) in the 300 hurdles.  

The Eagles medaled in each relay as the 4x100 team of seventh grader Elsie Goodfellow, sophomore Adelyn Lyons, Emma Woodson and Laila Barron took sixth (1:00.84); the 4x200 team of Boenker, Barron, sophomore Emma Woodson and freshman Bristol Barron was second (2:03.76); the 4x400 team of Boenker, Goodfellow, junior Kendra Pfitzinger and Bristol Barron was fourth (5:00.41) and the 4x800 team of senior Trina Scheltens, Adelyn Lyons, sophomore Addelyn Scheltens and sixth grader Nevaeh Jones was third (14:58.10).

In the field events, junior Caroline Keller was third in the discus (76 feet-1 inch); Laila Barron was second in the high jump (4-2) and Bristol Barron was second in the triple jump (29-7).

“The girls truly were a balanced attack,” Coach Doug Smith said. “The kids stepped up and did uncomfortable things. We went into this with the goal of winning both, and that meant chasing points. That meant athletes would be entered into events they may not have practiced before. That meant a lot of events for some kids in a short amount of time. That meant running tired, running hurt and giving of yourself for your teammates. They did that without complaint. That's character. That's being a great teammate. And that's a big reason why we won, particularly in the girls' meet.”

While the girls had a bunch of different athletes score points, the boys did the same, though to a lesser extent, as a returning state champion provided many points.

Senior Tommy Meyer won the high jump (5-10) and was third in the triple jump (36-9). He also ran the 110- and 300-hurdle races.

“It feels great to do it again,” Meyer said. “It really felt like a good way to end my high school career with a back-to-back championships for high jump and two state titles for the school. (It was) Definitely a good note to leave on.” 

Smith lauded both Meyer’s effort and his willingness to help the team.

“Obviously, our top male performer was Tommy,” Smith said. “He defended his state high jump championship. (In addition to the individual events). He was also on the 4X200 team. So, accounting for all of that, Tommy scored 37 of our 198 points. (That’s) pretty impressive. Having Tommy out has been great for our program. He's a solid athlete and I enjoyed coaching him. When we were preparing for this meet, he was willing to be in whatever events I'd put him in. He'd never run the 100 hurdles, but did well.”  

The 198 points scored by Liberty easily outpaced the 163 scored by Heartland Christian.

Other point earners for the Liberty boys were: sophomore Ben Greening, who was sixth in the 200 (25.85); sophomore Samuel Chemin was third in the 400 (55.53); junior Cole Nelsen (2:19.47), freshman Brady Russell (2:30.21) and eighth grader Everett Ramey (2:30.64) were second, fourth and fifth, respectively, in the 800; Russell (5:30.07) and seventh grader Ryan Smyka (5:42.72) were fifth and sixth in the 1,600; Russell (12:18.92) and Smyka (12:32.24) were fourth and fifth in the 3,200; junior Ryan Hoffmann was fourth in the 110 hurdles and fifth in the 300 hurdles.

The relays of the 4x100 team of Cruz Meyer, Nelsen, junior Ryder Carlisle and sophomore Benjamin Greening finished sixth (50.09); the 4x200 team of Chemin, Cruz Meyer, Thomas Meyer and Greening won the title (1:40.89); the 4x400 team of Chemin, Hoffman, Greening and Nelsen (4:00.97) was fourth and the 4x800 team of Russell, Hoffman, Ramey and Nelsen (9:48.59) was third.

Cruz Meyer also added field points, finishing fifth in both the high jump (5-8) and triple jump (36-4).

Smith said the program’s progression truly was a testament to all involved.

“I can't tell you how excited I am about this,” Smith said. “To do this in our second year is amazing. Last year, we took third in both, and this year, to move up to first is special and fun. Jeremy Russell and Tyler King, as other coaches, were instrumental in this.”