Track & Field Boys Earn Silver at State

The Kearney High School Boys Track & Field team garnered second-place honors at the Missouri State High School Activities Association’s Class 4 2024 championships, which were held on May 24-25 in Jefferson City.

This was the boys’ team’s sixth-straight state Track & Field trophy in eight years. The Bulldogs have finished in the top three for four years in a row.

“I could not be more proud of our efforts from this weekend,” Head Coach Scott Crall said. “We broke school records, had personal bests, tied state records, and competed at the highest levels.”

Coach Crall credited his student-athletes and veteran coaching staff for pulling together another outstanding season.

“I could not be more pleased with our senior leadership and I personally thank them for their commitment to our tradition and program,” Crall said. “I want to send out a personal thank you to our assistant coaches; without them, this is not possible! We have been able to stay together for years now and, in my opinion, they are the best in the business!”

State Champions and All-State Athletes:

- Theo Grace – Javelin (Tied the Class 4 javelin record and won the State Championship)

- Ty Smith – Discus (State Champion)

- Ty Smith – Shot Put (2nd Place and set the KHS record)

- Brock Colhour – 400m (Placed 5th and was a 4-year All-State athlete)

- Grant Noland – 300m Hurdles (Placed 5th)

- Harvey Sayon – High Jump (Placed 6th)

- 4x200m Relay – Cole Burnam, Brock Colhour, Deegan Knowles, and Grant Noland (Placed 4th and broke the KHS record)

- 4×400 Relay – Brock Colhour, Sam Way, Jacob Burkemper, and Grant Noland (Placed 3rd and broke the KHS record)

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

MSHSAA Announces Show-Me Bowl Venues

The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) is excited to announce two top-tier venues that will play host to the Show-Me Bowl for the next five years.

In its April meeting, the MSHSAA Board of Directors voted to approve Columbia as the host city for the 2024 MSHSAA Show-Me Bowl for Classes 1-6. The six games will be played on Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of Missouri. The Board also approved St. Joseph as the host city for the 2024 Show-Me Bowl for the 8-man game. The 2024 8-man Show-Me Bowl game will return to Spratt Memorial Stadium on the campus of Missouri Western State University for the first time since 2007.

"We appreciate the work the cities put into this bid process, and we have taken this process very seriously," MSHSAA Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Rukstad said. “We have an obligation to our membership to find not only the best facilities to host our championships, but also the best support from the host site to serve our schools’ needs. We are very excited about the next five years for the Show-Me Bowl!”

In addition, the Board approved St. Joseph’s proposal to host all 11-man and 8-man Show-Me Bowl games at Spratt Stadium from 2025-28.

“We have been extremely fortunate to host a wide variety of high-profile events over the last several months and cannot wait to welcome our state’s best high school football teams to an outstanding venue here in St. Joseph and Buchanan County,” said Executive Director of the St. Joseph Sports Commission Brett Esely. “In conjunction with our partner Missouri Western State University, we look forward to delivering an outstanding championship experience for all involved!”

Along with Griffon football and soccer, Spratt Stadium is also the home of the Kansas City Chiefs summer training camp.

"We feel Spratt Stadium is one of the premier college venues in the state and for our university to be on display for the best of the best high school football teams across Missouri over these next few years is a win-win for everyone involved,” MWSU Director of Athletics Andy Carter said.

MSHSAA offers championships and festivals in 24 activities, including: baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, volleyball, wrestling, scholar bowl, music, and speech, debate & theatre. For more information, visit mshsaa.org.

Story contributed by press release.