By Dean Backes
MaxPreps.com
For James White, the bar keeps rising. Literally.
A little over a year, after giving into Grandview track and field coach Andy Leech’s pleadings to give track and field a fair shot, the sophomore high jumper’s stock keeps rising along with that bar.
Evidence of his upward movement was front and center when White separated himself from the rest of the state by clearing the 7-foot barrier at the Kansas Relays in Lawrence (Kan.) April 19.
Seconds after that historic jump, Leech was paid his first visit by a Division I coach. White’s talent was validated.
“Just like that, I had an Iowa State coach standing next to me,” Leech said of the moments following White’s milestone leap. “He told me that he wanted to be the first coach to give me his card. He said, ‘You’re going to be in contact with a few more coaches over the next few weeks, and I wanted to be the first one.’ "
White is extremely competitive by nature. He’s focused and mentally tough. The sophomore’s landmark leap occurred on a freezing, drizzly day. Yet, he jumped at his highest level. Then he showed emotion.
“His response was that of sheer excitement,” Leech said of White’s reaction to his latest feat. It was the first time we saw the fist pump.”
With his basketball-first mindset, White has natural jumping ability. That’s what first drew Leech to vie for White’s talents.
“He’s a slam dunk contest on a basketball court,” Leech said. “It’s pretty much dunk-after-dunk with him when he gets the opportunity.”
Leech is not sure that a Division I basketball scholarship awaits the 5-foot-10 Bulldog. But he thinks a track scholarship at the highest level is almost a slam dunk.
White began his high school track career as a wet-behind-the-ears freshman, but by the end of the 2007 season he was jumping like a seasoned veteran. Soon, White was pushing Bulldog high jumping ace Brandon Kinnie to the brink. The pair dueled back-and-forth, neck-and-neck throughout his freshman season.
Eventually each athlete managed to tie the school record in their specialty event with leaps of 6-7. Kinnie finally outlasted his younger teammate by breaking the school record last May at Sectionals. He soared over the bar at 6-8.
White vowed that new mark wouldn’t stay around long. The jumper held true to his word. Earlier this season, White joined his former teammate at the top of the school chart when he soared over 6-8 at the University of Central Missouri’s Mule Relays.
A little over a week later, White made the record his own by clearing 6-10 at Blue Springs South’s Rusty Hodge Jaguar-Haldex Invitational.
Since the KU Relays, White has increased his school mark by one inch (7-1) at the Suburban Mid Six Conference Track Meet and easily sits above the rest of the Missouri prep field on our leader board. Now he has his sights set on a state championship and a state record leap of 7-3.
Here is a look at the remainder of the Missouri track and field leader board:
Missouri Boys Track and Field Leaders
100 Meters
Maurice Mitchell, Raytown South, 10.24
Maurice Woodard, Raytown South, 10.34
Damonte Bell, McCluer North, 10.40
Brandon Davis, Hazelwood East, 10.50
Demarco Paine, Hazelwood East, 10.50
Garren Hendricks, Hazelwood Central, 10.53
Carlos Anderson, Blue Springs, 10.56
Fred Taylor, Maplewood-Richmond Heights, 10.59
200 Meters
Maurice Mitchell, Raytown South, 20.74
Damonte Bell, McCluer North, 21.50
Demarco Paine, Hazelwood East, 21.70
Sam Scott, Waynesville, 21.73
Mark Morgan, Kansas City Central, 21.79
Garren Hendricks, Hazelwood Central, 21.83
Dillon Holliam, Hazelwood West, 21.90
Andre Martin, McCluer, 21.90
Walter Williams, Eureka, 21.90
400 Meters
Maurice Mitchell, Raytown South, 48.74
Alex Whiteside, St. Charles West, 49.13
Brian Taylor, Hazelwood Central, 49.35
D'Angelo Woods, Marquette, 49.40
Sam Scott, Waynesville, 49.49
Tarrell Downing, Hazelwood East, 49.49
Eric Rogers, Hazelwood Central, 49.57
Laron Cook, Hazelwood East, 49.58
800 Meters
Darwin Price, Normandy, 1:54.57
Banjo Jaiyesimi, Hazelwood East, 1:57.37
Jeff Kaiser, Columbia Rock Bridge, 1:57.70
Chase Johnson, Cape Central, 1:58.38
Matt Schwab, Francis Howell North, 1:58.47
Caleb Mitchell, Southwest (Washburn), 1:58.71
Lucas Manring, Stockton, 1:58.98
Jonathan Womack, Metro St. Louis, 1:59.00
1,600 Meters
Eric Fernandez, Parkway West, 4:16.05
Darwin Price, Normandy, 4:17.50
Patrick Keeley, Francis Howell, 4:19.80
Matt Schwab, Francis Howell North, 4:22.50
Sam Masters, Columbia Hickman, 4:23.27
Aaron Minsk, Principia, 4:23.60
Rick Elliott, Springfield Kickapoo, 4:23.98
Nick Niggemann, Potosi, 4:24.48
3,200 Meters
Eric Fernandez, Parkway West, 9:17.90
Nick Happe, Francis Howell North, 9:22.67
Matt Estlund, Chaminade, 9:23.43
Rick Elliott, Springfield Kickapoo, 9:24.47
Darwin Price, Normandy, 9:24.66
Patrick Keeley, Francis Howell, 9:25.34
Phil Bascio, Christian Brothers College, 9:28.17
Sam Masters, Columbia Hickman, 9:29.85
110 Hurdles
Andre’ McDonald, Park Hill, 14.00
Ralph Watson, McCluer North, 14.05
Tyler Shaw, Lutheran North, 14.06
Keyen Porter, Blue Springs South, 14.12
Jeremy Bankston, Parkway North, 14.20
Owen Allphin, Reeds Spring, 14.38
Derrick Winkle, Granite City, 14.40
Solomon Williams, Waynesville, 14.43
300 Hurdles
Jeremy Bankston, Parkway North, 37.48
Tyler Shaw, Lutheran North, 37.70
Andre’ McDonald, Park Hill, 38.49
Vincent Howze, Raymore-Peculiar, 38.64
Kerwin Stricker, Washington, 38.75
Erik Mitchell, Hazelwood East, 39.00
Lucas Bateman, Waynesville, 39.01
Karingus Belton, University City, 39.12
4x100 Relay
Hazelwood East, 41.28
Hazelwood Central, 41.63
Raytown South, 41.65
McCluer North, 42.25
McCluer, 42.26
Blue Springs South, 42.50
Ritenour, 42.74
Lee’s Summit West, 42.91
Kansas City Central, 42.91
4x200 Relay
Hazelwood Central, 1:26.76
Hazelwood East, 1:27.54
McCluer North, 1:27.64
Lutheran North, 1:28.25
McCluer, 1:28.26
Blue Springs, 1:28.59
Jefferson City, 1:29.01
Raytown South, 1:29.50
4x400 Relay
Waynesville, 3:18.68
Hazelwood East, 3:19.99
Hazelwood Central, 3:20.07
Blue Springs, 3:21.26
Eureka, 3:23.26
Normandy, 3:23.41
Riverview, 3:23.77
Granite City, 3:23.86
4x800 Relay
Francis Howell North, 7:57.07
Columbia Hickman, 7:59.54
Hazelwood East, 8:03.01
Springfield Kickapoo, 8:04.99
Francis Howell, 8:06.25
Lafayette (Wildwood), 8:06.32
West Plains, 8:08.21
Helias, 8:08.55
High Jump
James White, Grandview, 7-1
Andre’ McDonald, Park Hill, 6-10
Chris Kilgore, Poplar Bluff, 6-8 1/4
David Selby, Reeds Spring, 6-8
Phillip Thomas, Alton, 6-8
Cal Lane, Sikeston, 6-8
Tim Williams, Waynesville, 6-7 1/2
Craig Arnzen, Scott City, 6-7
Freddie Moore, Pattonville, 6-7
Long Jump
Derek Blevins, Raytown South, 24-6
Andre’ McDonald, Park Hill, 24-0 3/4
Bobby Carter, Lee’s Summit West, 22-10 1/2
Dejuan Beard, Raytown South, 22-8 3/4
DeAndre Vandevender, Trenton, 22-8 1/2
Derrick Shepherd, Jefferson City, 22-5
Cal Lane, Sikeston, 22-5
Bradley Juniel, Kansas City Central, 22-5
Triple Jump
Derek Blevins, Raytown South, 48-10 1/2
Josh Bankston, Parkway North, 48-5 3/4
Michael Izuchukwu, Lafayette (Wildwood), 47-8
Isaac Johnson, McCluer, 47-5 1/2
Jeremy Bankston, Parkway North, 47-4 1/2
Marquise Cushon, Raytown South, 47-0
Bobby Carter, Lee’s Summit West, 46-4 3/4
Jarell Childs, Oak Park, 46-2
Pharez Hill, McCluer South-Berkeley, 46-2
Shot Put
Corey Jones, Boonville, 63-7 1/2
Seth Hackney, Carl Junction, 60-0
Brooks Mosier, Lee’s Summit West, 58-11
Travis Ruth, Jefferson City, 58-2 1/2
James Coleman, Marquette, 57-3 1/2
Kyle Hoyt, Trenton, 56-8
Brian Chiles, Lee’s Summit, 56-3 1/2
John Petroff, Parkway Central, 55-11
Discus
James Coleman, Marquette, 186-2
Brooks Mosier, Lee’s Summit West, 183-8
Jon Petroff, Parkway Central, 181-6
Gus Toca, Blue Springs, 177-4
Kyle Hoyt, Trenton, 169-1
Corey Jones, Boonville, 169-1
Zak Thompson, Willard, 168-4
Jacob Bullinger, Jackson, 167-8
Pole Vault
Duggen Grant, Winnetonka, 15-6
Drake Duckworth, Lee’s Summit North, 15-0
Jeff Wilfong, North County, 14-6 1/2
Colby Snyder, Joplin, 14-6
Barrett Estes, West Plains, 14-6
Ben Licklider, Jefferson City, 14-6
Drew Phoebus, Lee’s Summit West, 14-4
Ryan Rethy, DeSmet Jesuit, 14-3
Missouri Girls Track and Field Leaders
100 Meters
Raequel Jacobs, Parkway Central, 11.30
Alishea Usery, McCluer South-Berkeley, 11.55
Lauren Hollingsworth, Villa Duchesne, 12.03
Shakira Thomas, North Tech, 11.97
Lindsay Vollmer, Hamilton Penney, 12.02
Ekate Lymon, Waynesville, 12.08
Alma Bagby, Dixon, 12.09
Crystal Harris, Rockwood Summit, 12.15
Latrilla McCoy, Malden, 12.15
200 Meters
Myles, Parkway Central, 24.14
Little, Riverview Gardens, 24.14
Alishea Usery, McCluer South-Berkeley, 24.41
Lauren Hollingsworth, Villa Duchesne, 24.69
Olivia Lewis, Gateway, 24.82
Racquel Powell, Raytown South, 24.94
Jasmine Jones, University City, 25.20
Miana Lee, Parkway Central, 25.25
400 Meters
Alishea Usery, McCluer South-Berkeley, 54.61
Kianna Ruff, McCluer South-Berkeley, 54.80
Cydney Ross, Villa Duchesne, 56.50
Jessica Lenoir, Alton, 56.98
Lynette Atkinson, Ladue, 57.08
Racquel Powell, Raytown South, 57.54
Lauren Hollingsworth, Villa Duchesne, 57.70
Jaronica Owens, McCluer, 57.70
800 Meters
Cydney Ross, Villa Duchesne, 2:09.57
Alyssa Allison, Festus, 2:13.40
Lauren Borduin, Columbia Rock Bridge, 2:14.67
Chelsea Chrisman, Eureka, 2:15.92
Diane Robison, Parkway Central, 2:17.75
Samantha Levin, Ladue, 2:18.40
Lauren Johnson, Parkway Central, 2:18.80
Liz Reida, Nixa, 2:18.82
1,600 Meters
Alyssa Allison, Festus, 4:59.56
Diane Robison, Parkway Central, 5:03.60
Lauren Borduin, Columbia Rock Bridge, 5:06.90
Chelsea Chrisman, Eureka, 5:07.60
Krista Menghini, St. Joseph’s Academy, 5:08.40
Elizabeth Keaveny, St. Theresa’s Academy, 5:08.50
Aimee Bonte, Rockwood Summit, 5:08.70
Natalie Becker, Parkway West, 5:09.12
3,200 Meters
Diane Robison, Parkway Central, 10:56.76
Alyssa Allison, Festus, 10:59.00
Aimee Bonte, Rockwood Summit, 11:01.39
Hilary Orf, Marquette, 11:11.76
Alyssa Rebecca, Eureka, 11:11.80
Ashley Scott, St. Clair, 11:20.55
Kate Horan, Cor Jesu, 11:21.00
Brittany Tate, Lee’s Summit West, 11:21.00
100 Hurdles
Precious Selmon, Crystal City, 14.25
Tiffani McReynolds, Pembroke Hill, 14.34
Lindsay Vollmer, Hamilton Penney, 14.60
Jordan Stiens, Maryville, 14.61
Ashli Mosby, Raytown South, 14.64
Leslie Farmer, Jefferson City, 14.76
Unique Hooks, Raytown South, 14.84
Erin Alewine, Jefferson City, 14.92
300 Hurdles
Danisa Bennett, Ladue, 44.20
Tierra Jones, Hazelwood East, 44.50
Briana Isom-Brummer, Villa Duchesne, 44.99
Alexys Plummer, Cardinal Ritter, 44.99
Tiffani McReynolds, Pembroke Hill, 45.00
Jordan Stiens, Maryville, 45.12
Lindsay Vollmer, Hamilton (Penney), 45.20
Precious Selmon, Crystal City, 45.25
4x100 Relay
McCluer South-Berkeley, 48.54
University City, 48.68
Cardinal Ritter, 49.21
Ladue, 49.30
Alton, 49.50
Normandy, 49.54
McCluer, 49.55
Rockwood Summit, 49.61
4x200 Relay
Cor Jesu, 1:39.00
McCluer South-Berkeley, 1:42.10
Ladue, 1:42.33
Gateway Tech, 1:43.58
University City, 1:44.01
Parkway Central, 1:44.50
Kirkwood, 1:44.78
Raytown South, 1:44.83
4x400 Relay
McCluer South-Berkeley, 3:49.12
Kansas City Central, 3:53.22
Ladue, 3:54.81
Eureka, 3:59.05
Parkway Central, 3:59.60
Cardinal Ritter, 3:59.84
Carrollton, 4:00.85
Rosati-Kain, 4:02.60
4x800 Relay
Ladue, 9:30.90
Parkway Central, 9:34.50
McCluer South-Berkeley, 9:37.67
Lee’s Summit West, 9:42.49
Eureka, 9:44.43
Festus, 9:46.88
Lindbergh, 9:48.00
Rosati-Kain, 9:49.00
High Jump
Colby White, Seckman, 6-4
Stacy Swineburg, Camdenton, 5-7
DeVonna Smith, Kirkwood, 5-6
Kelsie Knoche, Lee’s Summit, 5-6
Lindsay Vollmer, Hamilton (Penney), 5-6
Rosemary Semke, Orchard Farm, 5-5
Paige Peltzer, Atchison, 5-4
Morgan Whitson, Moberly, 5-4
Lisa Vengels, Dixon, 5-4
Erin Alewine, Jefferson City, 5-4
Brooke Hamilton, El Dorado Springs, 5-4
Heather Hileman, Jackson, 5-4
Davina President, Riverview Gardens, 5-4
Precious Selmon, Crystal City, 5-4
Rae Stewart, Fort Osage, 5-4
Mirjam Albrecht, Oak Park, 5-4
Briana Isom-Brummer, Villa Duchesne, 5-4
Long Jump
Precious Selmon, Crystal City, 19-0 1/2
Arteshia Williams, Ruskin, 18-10
Lindsay Vollmer, Hamilton (Penney), 18-6 1/4
Jade Nalls, Raytown South, 18-4
Jakyra Shelton, North Kansas City, 17-10
Emequa Owens, McCluer, 17-8 3/4
Brynn Williamson, Oak Park, 17-7
Ekate Lymon, Waynesville, 17-6 3/4
Triple jump
Jalexis Peterson, Lincoln College Prep, 37-11 1/2
Arteshia Williams, Ruskin, 37-9
Jade Nalls, Raytown South, 37-2 1/2
Ashane Johnson, Moberly, 37-1 3/4
Brittney Cloudy, Marquette, 37-0
Sarah Noonan, Kirkwood, 36-11
Stephanie Johnson, Jefferson City, 36-8 1/2
Lindsey Bragg, East Newton, 36-5 1/2
Shot Put
Katie Evans, Putnam County, 44-8
Lakeisha McKnight, Raytown, 44-3 1/2
Brittany Borman, Festus, 43-8 1/2
Jasmine Boyer, Fort Zumwalt West, 43-2 1/2
Bianca Lockette, McCluer North, 42-6
Jill Rushin, Jackson, 42-4 1/2
Cortni Ervin, Marshall, 42-0
Roxanne Koke, Waynesville, 41-11
Discus
Megan Collins, Lee’s Summit North, 156-3
Brittany Borman, Festus, 144-1
Kylie Jones, Webb City, 143-7
Alyssa Brock, Parkway North, 142-9
Katie Evans, Putnam County, 139-6
Jasmine Boyer, Fort Zumwalt West, 138-9
Jelani Kelly, Hazelwood Central, 135-11
Jill Rushin, Jackson, 134-3
Pole Vault
Hannah Cooper, Excelsior Springs, 12-0
Abby Garlich, Lee’s Summit, 11-6
Michelle Lange, Ladue, 11-6
Bethany Buell, Rockwood Summit, 11-6
Holly Stewart, Lee’s Summit West, 11-3
Shelby Franklin, Monroe City, 11-0
Maggie Givens, Branson, 10-9
Sydney Haase, Kearney, 10-7
