JEFFERSON CITY — Held over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, Hermann High School (HHS) track and field athletes Ryker Ash, Faith Gabathuler and Nolan Kopp earned the right to represent HHS during the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) State Track and Field Championships for Classes 1-3 held at the Dennis and Roberta Licklider Track Complex inside Adkins Stadium on the campus of Jefferson City High School (JCHS).

Hermann’s first chance at All-State honors came early that Friday morning in the Class 2 Girls Shot Put.

Posting a mark of 10.85 meters in her second throw of the preliminaries, that mark was good enough for sixth place after three throws in the preliminary round.

Gabathuler then earned three more attempts by placing in the top-nine that advanced to the finals.

Staying put in sixth place throughout the finals, Gabathuler became Hermann’s first All-State track athlete over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

“It felt great being on the podium against some of the best throwers in the state,” Gabathuler said. “It’s an awesome feeling knowing I was able to end my (HHS track and field) career with a state medal.”

Joining Gabathuler on the medal stand in the Class 2 Girls Shot Put were East Buchanan senior Brooklynn Johnson (13.33m), Butler junior Kylee Dubray (12.36m), Stockton junior Shia Roberts (11.72m), Iberia junior Paige Russell (11.47m), Monroe City senior Timia Reinberg (11.09m), Miller senior Rachel Nunez (10.79m) and Trenton sophomore Lupe Vehikite (10.56m).

Next up for the blue and white on day one was junior Ryker Ash in the Class 2 Boys 400m dash.

Posting a time of 50.69 in the first of two preliminary heats of the Class 2 Boys 400m dash, Ash clocked the sixth-fastest time earning him a place in Saturday’s finals.

Improving on his time in the prelims, Ash earned a seventh-place medal in the finals of the Class 2 Boys 400m dash with a time of 50.64.

Joining Ash on the podium were Jefferson (Festus) senior Matthew Waltman (48.03), Steelville senior Hunter Starbeck (49.24), Tipton senior (Riley Walters (49.29), Maysville senior Parker Sollars (49.98), McAuley Catholic senior Franklin Veer (50.50), New Bloomfield senior Hunter Rackers (50.60) and Archie junior Lake Callahan (50.65).

Towards the end of day one, Hermann senior distance runner Nolan Kopp took his first of two shots at a state medal in the Class 2 Boys 3200m run.

Leading throughout the first six laps, Kopp was passed by three runners over the last two laps before settling for a fourth-place time of 9:31.86.

“I wish the race had gone better but I’m happy with where I was able to finish and get on the medal stand,” Kopp said.

Joining Kopp on the medal stand in the Class 2 Boys 3200m run was Lexington senior Chael Lichte (9:24.23), North Platte senior Drake Keraus (9:29.27), Clark County senior Mason McDaniel (9:31.57), Paris senior Landen Chapman (9:37.65), School of the Ozarks sophomore Kellen Robertson (9:45.18), West Platte sophomore Charles Trease (9:52.70) and St. Pius X (Festus) senior Jayden Metzler (9:53.75).

Kopp’s second chance at a state medal came on day two of the first weekend of the MSHSAA Track and Field Championships in the Class 2 Boys 1600m run.

In third place after the first lap, the top half of the field caught up to Kopp before the Bearcat senior earned his second state medal of the meet following a seventh-place time of 4:27.89.

Along with Kopp on the medal stand in the Class 2 Boys 1600m run were Chapman (4:15.43), Lexington senior Connor Soendker (4:19.49), McDaniel (4:20.01), Keraus (4:23.45), Elsberry senior Jedidiah Heras (4:24.69), Lichte (4:25.46) and Jefferson (Festus) senior Ethan McVey (4:30.25).