​Rust, Keim earn all-state honors for Eagles in track

by Michael Smith, Grain Valley News
 
​
JEFFERSON CITY – Grain Valley sophomore Madison Rust had some momentum heading into the Class 5 Missouri State High School Track and Field Championships.
 
She won the javelin at the district and sectional meet and got to test her skills against the best javelin throwers in the state.
 
Rust earned her first state medal and finished in third place with a throw of 42.99 meters Friday at Adkins Stadium.
 
Francis Howell sophomore Adelle Metz won the event with a throw of 44.21 meters.
 
“I was a little bummed out that I didn’t get to 43 (meters),” Rust said. “That was my goal for the season. I was happy with where I placed. I knew I wanted to make it into the top three. I was seeded fourth going into this, so I finished one higher.”
 
Rust said she was pleased with her technique when throwing the javelin.
 
“My best throw was my first and my technique was good there,” Rust said. “I wasn’t thinking too much, I just went for it.”
 
Rust has some big goals for herself next season.
 
“I want to get the school record and a throw of 45 meters,” she said.
 
Grain Valley sophomore Molly Jones just missed out on all-state honors as she finished ninth with a throw of 38.26 meters.
 
Boys
 
Senior Asa Keim admitted he was disappointed with his performance in the pole vault, but he still earned his first state medal.
 
He finished sixth with a height of 4.28 meters. Kirkwood senior Jacob Poole won with a height of 4.78 meters.
 
“My personal record was 4.68 meters,” Keim said. “Everything with my body felt good, but I did have a skin problem. It felt good today. The crosswind threw me off a little bit. Besides that, I felt OK.”
 
Keim said he was pleased with how his season turned out despite missing a month due to an illness.
 
“It was a good season,” Keim said. “I got a personal record in sectionals so that is great.”

Grain Valley senior Asa Kiem tries to clear the bar in the pole vault. Photo credit: Michael Smith

​Grain Valley sophomore Madison Rust stands next to first-place finisher Adelle Metz of Francis Howell on the podium as she took third in the javelin with a throw of 42.99 meters. Photo credit: Michael Smith

Grain Valley senior Asa Kiem took sixth in the pole vault with a height of 4.28 meters. Photo credit: Michael Smith

Grain Valley sophomore Molly Jones just missed out on earn all-state honors as she took ninth in the javelin with a throw of 38.26 meters. Photo credit: Michael Smith

Grain Valley sophomore Madison Rust unleashes her final throw in the javelin event during the Missouri State High School Track and Field Championships Friday at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City. Photo credit: Michael Smith
​