The streak continued for the Montgomery County track team in 2023.

By having four all-state medalists, the Wildcats extended their streak to 11 years in a row that they had at least one athlete on the awards podium. Senior Lyric Ford, juniors El Reagan and Jacer Brower and sophomore Tyler Erwin finished with a combined seven medals.

“It’s a positive reflection of our program,” Ford said.

Erwin led the way with three medals, finishing third in the high jump and long jump and fifth in the triple jump. Ford placed second in the 1,600 and fourth in the 800, Reagan came in third in the pole vault and Brower finished fourth in the 400.

Getting four all-state medalists was one of the biggest highlights of an outstanding year for the Wildcats. They also broke seven school records and celebrated another Eastern Missouri Conference title in the girls division.

MCHS will lose seven athletes to graduation – Ford, Adam Czerniewski, brothers Brenden and Dominic Luttrell, Carissa Doyle, Carie Schroer and Destiny Shaw.

Ford wrapped up a successful career that included four all-state medals and school records in both the 800 and 1,600. This year, the Maryville University-bound runner had 11 first-place finishes in the distance events, including district and sectional championships in 800 and 1,600.

Czerniewski – a two-time state qualifier, began his senior year with victories in the 200 and triple jump at the Montgomery County Early Invite. For most of the year, he competed with the Lutrell brothers in the relay events.

Doyle competed in the discus and threw a personal-best 93-6 in the Montgomery County Invitational on April 17. Schroer and Shaw competed in the distance events.

The Wildcats had a solid junior class that included Reagan, Brower, Malia Rodgers, Morgan Koch, Conner Finke and Landon Massey.

Reagan earned all-state honors in the pole vault for the third straight year. She won the state championship last year. Also this season, Reagan won the event seven times and broke her own school record at the sectional meet.

Brower picked up his first all-state medal in the 400. Last year, he helped the 800-meter relay team place seventh at state. Brower won the 400 three times and broke his own school record in the state preliminaries.

Rodgers competed at state for the third year in row, placing 10th in the 3200. Her best effort of the season came at the EMO meet on May 2, where she won the 1,600 and 3,200 and had second-place medals in the 800 and 3,200-meter relay.

Massey had five second-place finishes in the pole vault. Koch competed in the javelin, long jump and the hurdle events. Finke participated in all three throwing events – shot put, discus and javelin.

Erwin was the Wildcats’ top performer in the jumping events all season long. In addition to his three all-state medals, Erwin had five first-place victories and set school records in the long jump and triple jump.

Erwin said he was happy that he made it to state for the second year in a row.

“In my freshman year, I was nervous because it was my first year doing track and my first year being all around these people,” Erwin said. “Now that I know what it is like, I know how to perform and what I should do in every single meet.”
Other key sophomores included Jadrian Thurmon – who anchored the 4x200 team to a victory at districts – and Isaiah Thomas.

The girls team won the EMO championship for the fourth year in row and the seventh time in program history. Ford said she has high hopes for the girls next year despite losing four athletes to graduation.

“There are a lot of middle schoolers coming up, so I think they’ll be OK,” Ford said.

Brower said he thinks his boys team will have a strong 2024 season. The Wildcats finished in the top three in four meets in 2023.

“I think we’re going to be pretty solid,” Brower said. “It’s tough to beat Bowling Green in conference.”

Stephanie Finke wrapped up her 12th season as head coach.