When Central Methodist University sophomore and Montgomery County graduate Renee Finke was competing in the high jump at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships on May 26 at Marion, Ind., she got a special visitor.

It was her mother, Stephanie, who is the head coach of the MCHS track team. She had four of her athletes compete at the Class 3 state track meet in Jefferson City on the same day, but she decided to make the drive east to Indiana to watch her daughter perform in nationals for the first time.

“I’m super glad that she got to come,” Finke said. “Mom only got to come to my conference meet. She’s busy all year long with track. I’m glad she got to come to the big national meet. I was like, ‘Thank you.’”

Finke gave her mother something to cheer about at nationals. The two-time high school state champion placed fifth in the high jump in 1.68 meters, becoming one of four CMU athletes to earn all-American honors.

“Honestly, it was like a sweet Jesus relief-kind of a thing because when I was out there, it was at a big platform and a big stage,” Finke said. “So I was keeping my cool the whole time. I was like, ‘OK, I got to make this one on the first try and I did.’ But after I realized that I made the top eight and became all-American, I was shocked, but super happy about it.”

The month before, Finke qualified for nationals by placing first in a school-record jump of 1.70 meters at the Lincoln University Open in Jefferson City. Finke is the school record holder in the high jump, 100-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles at MCHS.

Finke found out from CMU throwing coach Taylor Bottomley that she broke the school record.

“I honestly surprised myself with that one,” Finke said. “I didn’t expect to come in and do that.”

Finke was a strong performer in the hurdles, jumping and throwing events all season long for the Eagles. In addition to her all-American award and school-record breaking performance at Lincoln University, Finke had a third-place finish in the pentathlon in the Heart of America indoor meet, won a high jump title in the conference outdoor meet and finished with personal-best records in the triple jump (10.79 meters) and 100-meter hurdles (14.76 seconds).

Finke said she improved tremendously from her freshman year at the Fayette school.

“Track is so different in every single aspect,” said Finke, who graduated from MCHS in 2021. “It’s so difficult and so tough mentally and physically. You have to mentally hone yourself to do better and improve and not let anything get you down. It’s hard at that aspect, but I enjoy it. If you are doing the right things and you’re continuing to stay mentally strong, all you’re going to see is improvement. That’s exactly what I saw this year. So I’m just excited to go back and do even better next year.”

Finke was having knee issues before the indoor track season began in early December.

“This fall, it was tough,” Finke said. “It was still hurting. I was going to PT (physical therapy) for probably six to eight weeks and I was still trying to do what I could on the track. It was hurting for quite a while. I don’t remember when it stopped hurting, but at some point, all of the pain went away. It seemed like it fixed itself. My knee feels good as new.”

Finke helped the CMU women’s track team win the Heart of America Conference title in both indoor and outdoor divisions. The Eagles won their second straight indoor title and their first outdoor championship. Finke credits head coach Kenny Anderson for the team’s success.

“Coach Kenny continues to recruit and bring in more and more talented athletes,” Finke said. “The ones who stuck around are the ones who work hard and train hard day in and day out. Yes, it’s tough to have to want to do this for months upon months all year round. But the ones who can do it can do it and the ones who can’t can’t. But he keeps bringing in good people and good talent.”

Finke joined sophomore Baileigh Morris (5,000-meter race walk) and freshmen Baylee Beard (hammer) and Gizel Clayton (100-meter hurdles) in the group of CMU all-Americans.

Finke said her mother got to keep track on how her athletes did at the state meet while she was at nationals. Finke’s father, Karl, also was in attendance.

“I was so happy to have her there,” Finke said.

Finke was also happy with how she did in the classroom this year. She currently has a 4.0 grade point average.

“I expect the best and the most out of me, so I put in all of my effort and time into making sure that I’m doing good in the classroom as well as on the track every day,” Finke said. “Looking at where I am at now after two years, I’m extremely happy with the outcome of it.”