For four years, Bethany Slovensky enjoyed an outstanding career at Wellsville-Middletown High School, earning 10 all-state medals in track and qualifying for state in cross country three times.

Now, she’s off to a flying start at State Fair Community College.

Slovensky turned in a strong freshman year at the Sedalia junior college, making a trip to the NJCAA national meet, breaking a school record in the 100-meter hurdles and earning a spot on the school’s Dean’s List for the fall semester.

Slovensky also earned an award. During State Fair’s annual All-Sports Athletic Awards Night on May 6, she was named recipient of the track team’s annual Rowdie Award, which is given to a top student athlete who exhibits the highest character, work ethic and academics. Rowdie is the name of the school’s mascot.

Slovensky competed in four cross country meets, five indoor track meets and six outdoor track meets. She wrapped up her freshman year on a high note, winning the long jump and placing third in the triple jump and 100-meter hurdles at the Grand View University Viking Classic on April 25.

Slovensky finished with a season-best time of 15.63 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles at the Viking Classic. A month before, she ran 16.27 seconds at the Southwest Baptist University Bearcat Classic to break a school record.

State Fair cross country/track coach Brad Hagedorn said Slovensky improved tremendously from the first meet at the Central Methodist Open on March 15, when she finished in 16.68 seconds.

“As the season progressed she began to improve her hurdle time and eventually broke our school record in the 100m hurdles and set a career best in the triple jump,” Hagedorn said. “While her athletic accomplishments were significant, her contributions off the track were much more influential. She was an exceptional student and was a crucial leader for our team.”

Slovensky broke 16 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles twice. She ran 15.99 seconds in her seventh-place finish at the Culver-Stockton Wildcat Classic on April 18, just a week before she turned in her personal-best effort at the Viking Classic.

Slovensky jumped a season-best 34-10-.25 in the triple jump at the Viking Classic and a season-best 16-10 in her third-place finish in the long jump at the CMU Open. She also set season-best marks in the outdoor 200 (28.01 seconds) at the Culver-Stockton Wildcat Open and the indoor 60-meter hurdles (9.95 seconds) at the Grinnell College Darren Young Classic.

In cross country, Slovensky helped the State Fair women’s cross country team win the Region 16 championship and qualify for nationals. She placed 32nd with a 26:49.9 in the region meet and 289th with a season-best time of 25:17 at nationals.

Slovensky graduated from W-M in 2024. In track, she competed at state all four years and set school records in the 100-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles and long jump. In cross country, she competed at state in her freshman, junior and senior years. She was also a four-time all-Eastern Missouri Conference performer in basketball.

Slovensky, who lives in New Florence, is majoring in radiologic technology in State Fair.