El Reagan couldn't have asked for a better way to begin her quest for her second straight pole vault state championship on March 21.

The Montgomery County junior pulled off a victory in the pole vault under chilly conditions at the season-opening Montgomery County Early Invite, exactly 328 days after becoming the first Wildcat to win a pole vault state championship. She vaulted 8 feet, 11.5 inches.

“It was definitely a good start to the season, but I definitely still have room to improve,” Reagan said.

So far, the wins in the pole vault have been piling up for Reagan. She also placed first in the Bowling Green Mini-Medal Meet, Centralia Relays, Owensville Relays and the Ron Whittaker Bulldog Classic in Mexico. She vaulted a season-best 10 feet in the Bowling Green, Centralia and Mexico meets.

Reagan also had a second-place finish at the Montgomery County Invitational and a third-place eff ort at the South Shelby Invitational.

Last year, Reagan had eight wins in the pole vault, including the one at the Class 3 state meet in Jeff erson City. She vaulted a career-best 10-8 to join a small group of MCHS state champions that included Renee Finke and Ehren Banfield. Reagan prepared for the 2023 season by doing some indoor practice during the winter.

“I actually found a place to do indoor vault because I had to do it outside all of the time, which isn’t the greatest whenev-
er it’s snowing,” said Reagan, who also plays softball in the fall season.

This year, Reagan is competing in multiple events that includes the high jump, triple jump and the 100-meter hurdles.

“It’s a lot, but it keeps me going,” Reagan said. “I’m a very competitive person.”

Reagan turned in her best finish of the season in the 100-meter hurdles at the Ron Whittaker meet, placing third in
19.07 seconds. She ran 18.88 seconds in her seventh-place finish at the Centralia meet.

“I actually enjoy hurdles a lot more than I thought,” Reagan said. “It’s mentally challenging because it is a little scary. It's definitely nice to compete because you see that girl next to you and you say, ‘I need to beat her.’ It drives me. It’s also a speed-building event, so it will help me everywhere.”

Reagan fi nished with medals in three events at the Montgomery County Invitational on April 17, including the pole vault. She finished second to Palmyra’s Alaina Loman, who placed third at state last year.

“She’s doing really well,” Reagan said. “Whenever you get to the point where we’re competing against each other at
state, you have to root for each other. Or else, nobody is going to succeed.”

Reagan said she is definitely pleased with the way she is performing after the first month of the season.

“It’s pretty good,” she said. “Obviously, the end goal is winning state again. But I think right now, I’m still on an uphill journey. I’m defi nitely looking to meet some more goals. I’m not quite at my full potential yet. We’re in the middle of the season, so I have some room to grow. I’m
really excited for the postseason.”

Reagan and the Wildcats have just two regular season meets left before starting their postseason on May 13 at the Class
3, District 4 meet at North Point High School in Wentzville. They will compete in the Eastern Missouri Conference meet
on May 2 at Wright City and the Centralia Classic on May 8.

Reagan has high hopes for her girls track team as its season comes down to its final month.

“I think we can do some pretty big things,” the junior said. “It’s just a matter of putting in the work and getting it done.”