The 2025 Post-Dispatch All-Metro spring series continues with girls track and field.

Read more about girls track and field, and other high school sports, at STLhighschoolsports.com.

Sprints: Delaney Brinker, senior, Ladue

A Kansas State signee, Brinker capped her high school career with Class 5 state championships in the 200- and 400-meter runs and ran a leg on the Rams state champion 1600 relay, which won in a Class 5 state meet record of 3 minutes, 45.85 seconds. She also was state runner-up in the 100, helping Ladue win its second consecutive team state championship. Brinker’s personal best times in the 200 (23.68 seconds) and 400 (53.10) were fastest among area athletes. Brinker’s season best of 11.74 in the 100 was fourth-fastest in the area. Swept district and sectional titles in 100, 200 and 400. 

Middle: Elena Rybak, senior, Father McGivney

The Notre Dame signee cemented her Griffins legacy with Class 1A state championships in the 800- and 1600-meter runs with performances that were the fastest in the St. Louis area this season. The 1600 title in 4 minutes, 54.02 seconds, was the fourth successive of Rybak’s career, the first time an Illinois athlete accomplished the feat since Effingham St. Anthony’s Anna Sophia Keller did it from 2014-17. Rybak’s state-winning time of 2:08.3 in the 800 set an Illinois Class 1A state meet record and was the fastest time this season for all classes in Illinois. She was undefeated in the 800 in five races and collected five individual championships in the 1600.

Distance: Maleah Eggers, senior, Marquette

University of Missouri recruit posted the fastest time among area athletes in the 3200 meters (10 minutes, 48.53 seconds) to finish as the Class 5 state meet runner-up. Broke 11-minute barrier for first time to win sectional title and also was district champ. In the 1600, finished third at state in season-best 4:58.17 and also was conference and sectional champion. 

Hurdles: Alexa Adams, junior, Timberland

Ran to seven individual championships in the 100-meter hurdles, including conference, district and sectionals before a runner-up finish in the Class 5 state meet in a personal-best time of 13.71. Ran to three championships in the 300 hurdles including a sectional title with time of 42.33 seconds that is second-fastest this season among area athletes. Finished third at state in 300 hurdles. Her personal bests both rank among the fastest on the area’s all-time honor roll.

Vertical jumps: Rebecca McGuire, junior, Francis Howell North

Won the Class 5 state championship and set a program record with a vault of 3.81 meters (12 feet, 6 inches) in her first state meet. The performance is tied for the area’s best this season and tied for third-best in area history. McGuire also won conference, district and sectional titles, and the only meet she didn’t win was against an elite field at the Kansas Relays, where she finished fifth.

Horizontal jumps: Chloe Tabb, junior, Marquette

Class 5 state runner-up in both triple jump and long jump. Claimed conference championships in both events, including a mark of 12.44 meters (40 feet, and 9.75 inches) in the triple jump that is a personal best, the No. 1 mark in the area this season and fourth all-time in area history. Her best mark of 5.83 meters (19 feet, 1.5 inches) in the long jump was the Class 5 state runner-up and a program record.

Throws: McKenna Lay, junior, Pacific

Consistently one of area’s best throwers. Won Class 4 state title in shot put with personal-best and school-record throw of 13.4 meters (43 feet, 11.75 inches). Won 10 titles in the javelin, including personal-best 47.75 meters (156 feet, 8 inches) to win Henle Holmes Invitational, which is ninth-best throw in nation. Fifth at state in javelin and fifth at state in discus with personal-best throw of 38.73 meters (127 feet).

Multi-events: Bailey Hensgens, sophomore, Incarnate Word

Unbeaten in high jump and triple jump this season, winning Class 4 state championships in both. Her personal-best mark in the high jump was 1.78 meters (5 feet, 10 inches), which was area’s best this season and tied for second in area history. Her best triple jump mark was 12 meters (39 feet, 4.25 inches) to win GISL title. Also state runner-up in long jump with season-best mark of 5.76 meters (18 feet, 10.75 inches).

Sprints: Rayna Raglin, junior, Alton

Ran area-best time of 11.58 seconds in 100 meters and personal best of 24.09 seconds in 200 to sweep sectional titles. Finished third in 100 and fifth in 200 at Class 3A state meet. Won five titles each in the 100 and 200, including a sweep in the Southwestern Conference meet.

Middle: Grace Coppel, senior, MICDS

Will continue running career at Army-West Point after finishing second in 800 meters at Class 4 state meet in program record of 2 minutes, 10.17 seconds. Ran anchor leg on Rams’ winning 1600 relay at state. District and sectional champ in 800. Third team All-Metro swimming selection.

Distance: Brooke Samuelson, junior, Eureka

In first season running on the track for the Wildcats, Samuelson finished fifth in the Class 5 state meet in both the 800- and 1600-meter races with personal-best times in each event. Ran 2:14.26 in the 800 and 5:01.61 in the 1600. Ran a leg on Eureka’s seventh-place 3200 relay at state.

Hurdles: Amelia Ward, junior, Francis Howell

All-around standout was a four-event Class 5 state meet qualifier, finishing as runner-up in the 300 hurdles in 42.56 seconds, the area’s third-best time this season. She also was sixth in the 100 hurdles in 14.78, finished fifth in the triple jump and ran on Howell’s qualifying 400 relay. Ward swept the GAC South titles in both hurdles races.

Vertical jumps: Avery Foster, junior, Fort Zumwalt East

Won the Class 4 pole vault state championship for second successive season, clearing 3.66 meters (12 feet). Her personal-best vault of 3.81 meters (12 feet and 6 inches), which won the sectional meet title, is tied for the best among area athletes this season. Also won district title and never finished lower than second. Ran on Lions 800-meter relay throughout season and helped it qualify for sectional meet.

Horizontal jumps: Brooke Lunsford, senior, Grandview

Multi-sport athlete concluded high school career with Class 2 championship in long jump with a personal-best leap of 5.49 meters (18 feet and 0.25 inches). She never finished outside top five in 10 meets in the long jump, with five individual championships. Collected titles in the triple jump, including at conference and district meets.

Throws: Joi Story, junior, Edwardsville

Had the area’s best discus throw of 42.35 meters (138 feet, 11 inches) to finish third in the Class 3A state meet. Also finished fifth at state in shot put with a season-best effort of 12.33 meters (40 feet, 5.5 inches). Southwestern Conference champion in shot put, sectional runner-up in both throwing events.

Multi-events: Laila Murray, junior, Ladue

Helped Rams win second successive team championship in variety of ways. Picked up Class 5 state meet runner-up finishes in the 200- and 400-meter runs to teammate Delaney Brinker.  Anchored state champion 800 relay (1:39.13) and also ran on 400 relay that finished fifth. Ran personal-best 55.23 in 400 at state and 24.21 in 200 at sectional meet.

Sprints: Justyce Sanders, sophomore, MICDS

Claimed Class 4 state championship in the 200 meters with a personal-best time of 23.82 seconds that ranked second in the area. Also posted area’s second-fastest time in the 400 (54.0) in state runner-up finish. Ran leg on Rams’ state title-winning 1600 relay. Collected 14 individual titles between the 100, 200 and 400.

Middle: Bella Navarro-Sanchez, sophomore, Liberty

Posted the area’s third-fastest time in the 800 meters (2 minutes, 11.74 seconds), which was good for a Class 5 state meet runner-up finish. Won district and sectional titles in the 800. Finished 13th at state in the 1600. Won Class 5 cross country championship in the fall.

Distance: Lucy Rines, sophomore, St. Joseph’s

Class 4 state runner-up in 3200 meters in 11:00.16, just off personal best (10:58.65) she ran to win GISL title. Won 3200 titles in district and sectional meets. Sixth at state in 1600 in personal-best 5:06.20. Won 1600 at district, runner-up at sectional. Ran on state runner-up 3200 relay.

Hurdles: Sophia Shapiro, sophomore, Edwardsville

Claimed eight successive titles in the 100-meter hurdles, including conference and sectionals, before a fourth-place finish in Class 3A state meet. Also claimed six titles in the 300 hurdles, before finishing fourth at state meet. Her personal best times this season were 14.04 seconds in the 100s and 42.83 in the 300s.

Vertical jumps: Ayla Bishop, senior, Eureka

Signed with Missouri Southern State. Finished second in the Class 5 state meet, her best showing in three state appearances, with personal-best vault of 3.81 meters (12 feet, 6 inches). Matched winning height but placed as runner-up because of misses during competition. Also cleared 12 feet to win district and sectional titles. 

Horizontal jumps: Uyoyoghene Omunu, junior, Parkway North

A repeat selection on the third team, Omunu never finished outside of the top 10 in either the long jump or triple jump. She finished third in the Class 4 state meet in the long jump with personal best of 5.69 meters (18 feet, 8 inches), and also was eighth in the triple jump. Swept long jump and triple jump at district. 

Throws: Adelle Metz, sophomore, Francis Howell

One of the best pure javelin throwers in the area. She won eight championships of the 10 meets she competed in and concluded her season with the Class 5 state championship with a personal-best and school-record throw of 44.21 meters (145 feet). Also a standout softball player.

Multi-events: Lilly Gilbertson, senior, Father McGivney

Did a little bit of everything for the Griffins the last four years, helping program to the school’s first team state championship last year and a third-place finish this year. Picked up two top five finishes at the Class 1A state meet in the 100- and 200-meter runs before a runner-up finish in the 400.