Renee Finke was a solid addition to the Central Methodist University women’s track team this year.

The two-time high jump state champion from Montgomery County High School was the Eagles’ top performer in several events such as the high jump, shot put and the hurdles and helped her team win a combined total of five meets in the indoor and outdoor seasons, including its first Heart of America indoor conference championship.

“I enjoyed it,” said Finke, who also earned straight A’s at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics school in Fayette. “It’s pretty different. Mentally, it was much more difficult than high school. The physical part was much harder as well.”

Finke said all of that early training that began in early September definitely paid off.

“We trained for probably four months before our first meet, which was definitely a big change,” Finke said.

Finke, who graduated from MCHS in 2021, was one of 13 freshmen on the CMU women’s roster in the 2021-22 season. She said she quickly found out that competing in track in college is much more challenging than in high school.

“Most of the time as freshmen going into college, everything is so different,” Finke said. “One of my coaches has been talking to me about this for the longest after I got frustrated in the middle of the year because I wasn’t performing as well as I did last year. She told me from the experience of her freshman year that it wasn't a smooth transition because your whole schedule is different, your diet is different, your training is different and your class times are different.”

Finke’s freshman season got off to a strong start on Dec. 4, when she came close to hitting the national qualifying mark in the pentathlon at the Boo Rogers Combined Events meet at Pittsburg (Kan.) State University. She placed 19th with 2,859 points, highlighted by a third-place finish in the high jump and shot put.

A month later, Finke returned to Pittsburg State to compete in the NAIA/JUCO Invitational and placed first in the high jump. She also helped the Eagles win the team title.

On Feb. 19, Finke helped CMU win the Heart of America indoor meet, which was held at Maryville. Finke, who helped the MCHS girls track team win two Eastern Missouri Conference titles during her high school career, placed fifth with 2,720 points, highlighted by a first-place finish in the shot put.

Also during the indoor season, Finke had first-place finishes in the high jump at the Central College Dutch Holiday Classic on Dec. 10 and the University of Central Missouri Mule Relays on Jan. 28.

Finke’s best performance during the outdoor season came on April 1-2 at the CMU Invite, where she finished second in the heptathlon, highlighted by first-place finishes in the high jump and shot put.

The freshman also placed fourth in the heptathlon at the Heart of America conference meet on May 7, which included a first-place finish in the shot put.

Finke said she enjoyed working with CMU coach Kenny Anderson, who earned Heart of America women’s indoor coach of the year honors.

“He’s super cool,” said Finke, who competed in a combined 13 meets during the indoor and outdoor seasons. “He’s laid back in some aspects. But whenever it comes to track and training, he’s tough.”

Finke said she hopes to turn in a strong sophomore season next year.

“Coach Kenny and I figured out that we could develop a routine on what works best because there is so much to work on in so little time,” Finke said. “I think we’ll establish something sooner and better that will help me in some of those aspects.”

Finke also played volleyball at CMU. She played just two matches.

“I was on the reserve team,” said Finke, a two-time all-EMO selection in volleyball. “We have tournaments every Sunday, but that never really interfered with my track training.”