All six Lexington runners medal in each of their events

Wow! What an unbelievable weekend, as six Lexington High School distance runners all did a great job in the Class 2 State Track and Field Meet on May 22 and 23, in Jefferson City.

All six runners brought home a medal in each of the events that they competed in, and the Lexington Girls WON THE CLASS 2 STATE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP.

The four Lexington Girls, Ellie Lichte, Addison Smith, Phoebe Engelbrecht and Tessa Lovell, combined for 3 first place finishes, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, 1 fourth and 1 seventh place finish, in the four events that they competed in. These Girls earned a total of 9 medals, and compiled a team total of 65 points, that placed them 11 points ahead of second place Penny of Hamilton and 24 points ahead of third place Fayette, in the team standings. In fact, the Lexington Girls point total was at least 12 points higher than the totals of either the Class 1 or Class 3 State Championship teams.

The two Lexington Boys, Chael Lichte and Conner Soendker also did very well, as they combined for 1 first place finish, 1 second place finish, and a sixth and a seventh place finish in the three events that they competed in. They won a total of 4 medals, and compiled a total of 23 team points, placing them in the top 10 at seventh place, out of 60 teams. Pretty good for only two athletes.

For the Girls, Ellie Lichte took first place in the 1600 Meter Run (4:56) and first in the 3200 Meter Run (11:01), while placing third in the 800 Meter Run (2:18). Addison Smith finished second in the 1600 Meter Run (5:06), second in the 3200 Meter Run (11:05), and seventh in the 800 Meter Run (2:22). Phoebe Engelbrecht was third in the 3200 Meter Run (11:29), and fourth in the 1600 Meter Run (5:13). The three runners, along with Tessa Lovell, not only took first place in the 4 x 800 Meter Relay, but they also set a new Class 2 State Record of 9:34, breaking the previous record of 9:39, which was set by Principia in 1992.

For the Boys, Chael Lichte took first place in the 3200 Meter Run (9:24), while Conner Soendker placed second in the 1600 Meter Run (4:19). Lichte was also sixth in the 1600 Meter Run, (4:25) while Soendker placed seventh in the 800 Meter Run (1:59).

The Lichte family made it a clean sweep in the 3200 Meter Run, with Ellie winning the Girls race, and Chael finishing first in the Boys race.

The Class 2 Girls Team Standings were: 1) Lexington, 2) Hamilton, 3) Fayette, 4) North Platte, 5) Butler, 6) Chaffee, 6) Lutheran, 8) Winfield, 9) Highland, 10) East Buchanan The Class 2 Boys Standings were: 1) Jefferson (Festus), 2) Brentwood, 3) North Platte, 4) Paris, 5) West Platte, 6) Salisbury, 7) Lexington, Malden, 9) St Pius (Festus), 10) Fayette.

This was the third State Track Championship for the Lexington Girls, as the Minutewomen were also State Champions in 1981 and 1982. The Lexington Boys Track Teams have also won three State Track Titles in 1979, 1989, and 1993, It is somewhat ironic, but the Lexington Girls State Track Championship comes on the heels of two straight State Cross Country Championships, where the same four Girls, that won this year’s Track Championship, along with Natalie Adkins this year, were the same Girls that won the two State Cross Country Championships. Smith, Engelbrecht, Lovell, Chael Lichte and Soendker have all been All State Cross Country runners the past two years, while Ellie Lichte and Adkins were All State this year.

Lexington Head Girls and Boys Track Coach, Chad Caldwell commented: “All of our athletes, both boys and girls, really stepped up and did a super job at the State Meet, as they have done all year. These are not only outstanding athletes, but they are also great young people. They have all worked very hard, and they have really bought into our system. I especially commend Brad Young, who coaches our distance runners. It has been a great year, and I am extremely happy and proud of both of our teams.”

Brad Young, Holly Crabtree, Chris Brooks, Crystal Turner and Aaron Hayden are the Lexington Assistant Track Coaches.