CAST YOUR VOTE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE. YOU MUST RANK NO. 1 TO NO. 4 WITH NO. 1 BEING YOUR TOP PICK.
Ransom Allphin, Reeds Spring
Allphin was the area’s best hurdler in 2017. The senior posted the No. 1 area times in the 100-meter hurdles (14.30) and the 300-meter hurdles (39.37). He won the sprint hurdles at the Class 3 state meet and finished third in the 300-meter hurdles. He also ran legs on Reeds Spring’s championship 400-meter relays. Allphin also had the area’s No. 4 400-meter dash time (40.70). All of this helped lead the Wolves to a runner-up finish as a team.
Korey Robinette, Reeds Spring
Robinette was the fastest athlete in Southwest Missouri this season. He posted the area’s top time in the 100-meter dash (10.44). He had the area’s No. 2 200-meter dash time in 21.76. The Reeds Spring senior was one of just three area athletes to break 22 seconds in the event. He won the 200-meter dash at the Class 3 state meet and finished runner-up in the 100-meter dash. He also was a part of the championship 400-meter relay and third-place finishing 800-meter relay.
Ben Stasney, West Plains
Stasney saved his best for last on the track. On the first day of the Class 4 state track meet, Stasney came out and blazed a 1:54.21 in the 800-meter run to win the event. He posted the area’s No. 1 time by almost two full seconds in the process. On Day 2, he anchored the West Plains 3,200-meter relay team to a seventh-place finish with a 1:53.70 split. He followed that with a 9:10.89 in the 3,200-meter run for fourth place.
Nate Swadley, Willard
Swadley was the area’s most versatile thrower in 2017, garnering all-state honors in each event to be the only area male athlete to bring home three individual all-state honors. He posted matching third-place finishes in the shot put and javelin to go with a fifth-place finish in the discus. He finished the year with the area’s No. 1 shot put throw (56’10”), the No. 4 discus mark (163’05”) and the No. 8 javelin toss (158’06”).
