Centralia stashed a trove of gold, North Callaway reaped a few nuggets, as well, and Missouri Military Academy topped the podium once at last week’s Centralia 9th and 10th Grade Meet.

The Panthers girls won 14 events, with the boys adding three more to the haul. For the Thunderbirds, four wins came on the boys side. Ellie Bedsworth took top spot in shot put for the girls.

MMA’s victory came in the 400 meter dash. Michael Wever broke the string at 57.46, ahead of North Callaway’s Gavin Rasmussen, another Colonel – Victor Salinas – and Nathan Timpe of Centralia.

It was that kind of day, with all three schools generally in the mix.

Thunderbirds distance specialist Lane Kimbley took the boys 3,200 with a time of 10:46.22. Centralia’s Rohan Holiman was a tick back in second, followed by teammates Benjamin Chick and Elijah Hill.

Holimon won the 1,600. Chick and the Colonels’ Matthew Taylor claimed top fives.

In the 800, MMA’s Kellen Mugisha ran third, with North Callaway’s Brendan Reinhard and Wayland Evans, also from MMA, on his heels.

Cairo’s Logan Head dominated the hurdles. Filling out the next four slots were Cayden Dunn (Centralia), Gabriel Canonico (MMA) Isiah Craighead (North Callaway) and Wyatt Bryson (Centralia). It was pretty much the same crew in the 300, with Beau Hatton of Centralia second and Silas Barker in the field.

Reinhard’s took the top spot in high jump. Barker and Hatton were not far off. Kyden Wilkerson from Centralia has seconds in more than one event, Sergio Moreno of North Callaway claimed top fives.

North Callaway’s Caleb Rohrbach swept discus and shot by clear margins. Hunter Fansler, another Thunderbird, took silver in discus, as well as javelin – ahead of Craighead. MMA’s Jared England captured third spot in shot put.

Others with one or more top fives were Jesse Shannon of Centralia, Mathias Lobb, Jeffery Lemley and Keaton Bruns from North Callaway.

Panthers black was in fashion on the girls side. Kaelyn Walters took the 100 dash in 13.42, ahead of North Callaway’s Corynne Miller. Shelby Lewis won the 200 and 400 events, with Walters, Olivia Adams, Kaylie Ensor and Thunderbird Miller close behind.

Jozlynn Bostick brought in gold for Centralia in the 800 and 1,600. The Panthers Gretchen Marriott won the 3,200.

Marriott and Morgan Ross were Centralia top fives in the 800. North Callaway’s Caitlyn Sobba held fifth in the 1,600.

The Panthers Harper Sontheimer swept the hurdles. Teammate Katie Carrico earned silver in both events. Centralia’s Jade Lawson and North Callaway’s Jalyn Leible had top fives.

The same names popped up in the jumps. Ross number one in high jump. Walters number one in triple. Leible and Sontheimer and Lewis not far off.

In pole vault, Ensor finished in a tie with Anna Ferguson of Battle at 9’02.75, but was relegated to second in the tiebreaker. Miriam Auck and Olivia Adams – both Panthers – were third and fifth, respectively.

Centralia’s Annaka Hombs reached second in the javelin throw, with Bedsworth third and Harper Forshee, also from Centralia, fourth.

Bedsworth’s throw of 31’03.75 in the shot put competition claimed the Thunderbirds’ lone girls gold.

Also in the top five were Ellie Berendzen of Centralia in shot and discus.