There are 115 schools in Class 2 track and field. And only about two-thirds of them had an athlete qualify for the state championship meet hosted by the Missouri State High School Athletics Association. Woodland was among those teams, sending eight girls and seven boys to Jefferson City last weekend to compete against the best in the state. They not only returned to Marble Hill with five All-State performances under their belt, three of them gold, they broke five school records at the meet as well.

The top four teams in the state are recognized with a trophy. The Woodland boys team earned 39 points. In any other class, that would have been enough to put them on the podium, but in Class 2, it took 40 points.

“I always tell the kids that you do everything you can do, and if somebody else can do better, good for them,” head coach Ryan Layton said. “I was a little disappointed that 39 points didn’t get it done, but how can I be unhappy when the kids did what they did? It was an incredible showing.”

Boys team

n 4x800: (Reed Layton, Calvin Layton, Merlin Tucker, Hayden VanGennip), state champions, new school record (8:11.19)

n 3200: Reed Layton, state champion, broke his school record (9:45.78); Calvin Layton, All-State, sixth (10:07.22)

n 800: VanGennip, state champion, broke his school record (1:58.79)

n 1600: Reed Layton: All-State, third, new school record (4:29.95); Calvin Layton, 11th (4:37.55)

n 4x400: (VanGennip, Tucker, Bryer Sauls, Colby Miller), 15th (3:37.38)

n Javelin: Kamren McCormick, 16th (40.06 meters)

Girls team

n Pole vault: (London Cureton and Millie Bazzell); Bazzell, 10th, broke her school record (8’8.25”)

n 100 m hurdles: Hannah Vawter, 13th (17.35)

n Discus: Harlie Hinkle: 12th (29.74 m)

n Shot put: Hinkle, 13th (10.02 m)

n 4x800: (Presley Ridings, Faith Rouggly, Shirley Hendricks, Kaydence Stause), 15th (11:02.29)