Samantha Turner had a successful trip back to Centralia on May 16.

The Montgomery County junior picked up a sweep in the throwing events at the Class 3, Sectional 2 meet that was held at Centralia High School. She won the shot put in 36 feet, 11 inches and the discus in 123-9 to qualify for the Class 3 state meet for the third year in a row. It’s also the first time Turner won sectional titles in both events in the same year.

The week before, Turner won the shot put and placed second in the discus at the District 4 championship meet, which was also held in Centralia.

Now, Turner is looking to get out of Jefferson City with medals in both shot put and discus for the second straight year. Last year, she placed second in the discus and third in the shot put.

“I’m so excited,” Turner said. “I’m ready to go back and ready to compete for a state championship. It’s going to be a fun weekend.”

Turner and sophomores Emma Rodgers and Mieka Ray will represent the Wildcats at the Class 3 meet, scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Adkins Stadium. Rodgers finished second in the 800 at sectionals to qualify for state for the second year in a row. Ray came in fourth in the triple jump to earn her second straight state berth.

Turner will compete in the shot put at 1 p.m. on Friday and the discus at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Rodgers will run in the 800 at approximately 4 p.m. on Friday and Ray will compete in the triple jump at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Turner said she likes the two-day format at state.

“It’s definitely a little bit different than competing in both events in one day, but it kind of gives me some time to relax and wind down before I head right back into another event,” the junior said.

Turner will look to continue an outstanding season in the throwing events that include six wins each in the shot put and discus. She was out for a couple of weeks in April due to a back injury.

“It’s been a great year despite the injury,” Turner said. “I had some problems there in the middle of the year. But I’m just glad that I got my back fixed and be able to do what I like to do.”

At sectionals, Turner beat Centralia’s Kassena Ridgel by three inches in the discus. Ridgel, who beat Turner for the district title the week before, threw a 123-6.

“It was definitely a tight race between us,” said Turner, who captured her first sectional crown in the discus. “She’s always great competition, so it was good to come out and get a win.”

Turner won the sectional title in the shot put for the second year in a row. She won the event by nearly 11 inches over Centralia’s Cora King.

Turner said she was happy to leave Centralia with two victories.

“It feels good,” she said. “I came out here and knew there was going to be some tough competition. So coming out and being able to perform was good.”

Rodgers ran a 2:25.64 in the 800. She finished second by a tenth of a second to Fatima’s Brie Massman.

Rodgers will look to earn all-state honors at the 800 for the second year in a row. She placed eighth a year ago.

Ray earned another trip to Jefferson City by jumping 34-5 in the triple jump after scratching her first two attempts. She competed in the 1,600-meter relay at state in 2025.

Three other MCHS athletes competed at sectionals, but didn’t qualify for state. Senior Cooper Sellenriek finished sixth in the javelin and eighth in the 400 in the boys division. Senior Katlyn Kolling and junior Kaylee Daume competed on a 4x400 girls team that included Rodgers and Ray, but the squad came up short of a state-qualifying bid, placing seventh in a 4:32.49.