Pahl achieves South Callaway’s first multi-event all-state girls placing since 2014

South Callaway freshman Reece Pahl competes in the Class 2 girls 100-meter dash final on Saturday at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City. Pahl placed fourth with a time of 12.79 seconds. (News Tribune/Kate Cassady)
South Callaway freshman Reece Pahl competes in the Class 2 girls 100-meter dash final on Saturday at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City. Pahl placed fourth with a time of 12.79 seconds. (News Tribune/Kate Cassady)


JEFFERSON CITY -- Heading into the Class 2 track and field state championships, South Callaway freshman Reece Pahl was Callaway County's only multi-event state qualifier this season.

"It means a lot," Pahl said. "Sometimes it really doesn't set in. I don't really realize it, but when I think about like, 'Wow, I'm really impressing myself, really proud of myself.'"

After state, Pahl became South Callaway's first girls athlete to make all-state in multiple events for the first time in nine years (eight seasons).

Pahl, the lone Callaway County athlete competing on Day 2, took part in the long jump, 100-meter dash and 200 dash finals Saturday at Adkins Stadium.

Pahl achieved her best finish -- and tied Nathan Russell (boys javelin) for South Callaway's highest placing at state this season -- in the 100 dash.

Starting from the second lane, Pahl earned an all-state placing, finishing fourth with a time of 12.79 seconds -- the best result of four underclassmen in the event.

"A lot of sprinting, block starts had to practice on all the techniques, and it all paid off," Pahl said.

North Platte's Olivia Rogers won the 100 dash, clocking in at 12.34. Pahl's personal/school record time of 12.12 (set at districts in South Callaway this season) would've been good enough to win the state title by 0.22.

"State championships are all about timing," South Callaway coach Stephen Wisch said. "Hitting your best at the right time of year, very dependent on who else is competing in your event, and being prepared for the moment when it comes. Reece has the ability to be one of the greats here at South Callaway, and as she works to improve on this season, we know she will do what it takes to maximize her ability.

"We are big believers on focusing on improvement rather than chasing a specific place. If Reece continues to have that mindset of working to PR over and over again, the accolades and end-of-the-year results will take care of themselves."

Pahl's second and final all-state finish came in the 200; she took sixth with a time of 26.93. She placed sixth in the preliminaries Friday, though Pahl improved her time in the finals by 0.19; North Platte's Rogers also won the 200, clocking in at 25.34.

According to Wish, Pahl was the first Lady Bulldog since Hannah Oberdiek in 2014 to make all-state in two events in the same season. Oberdiek achieved her all-state placings in the 4x100 and long jump.

"Obviously, very impressive season and weekend for Reece," Wisch said. "Every once in a while, you have an opportunity to coach someone with that type of awesome ability. Reece is hard-working and dedicated to the craft. We are extremely proud of her and grateful for all that she does for our program."

Known for her sprinting ability, Pahl showed she can do more than that by making state in the long jump.

In the long jump, Pahl took 10th with a leap of 15 feet, 11 inches. Maysville's Mirabella Redman topped the leaderboard, jumping 17-6.

"It was kind of hard in the beginning of the season because my leg was hurting really bad, and I wasn't doing very good," Pahl said. "But I perfected the technique, and I just got better, and it paid off."

It wasn't just a successful showing at state by one South Callaway athlete, as all four competitors (two boys and girls each) achieved all-state in at least one event.

"It really comes down to our kids. Our kids are really hard workers," Wisch said. "And again, we had kids, even kids who didn't make it here today who worked so hard throughout the season. And our coaching staff did a great job.

"Jim Hager in the pole vault. Two kids make all-state -- that's special. That's not just random happenstance, right? There's a long tradition of our pole vault program doing great. Jim has put in years of effort there.

"There's javelin for years now; we've had someone make it to state multiple years in a row. And it's that progression of those guys and girls passing down the knowledge from one group to another.

"I mean, obviously, Reece is kind of a cherry on top of the dessert. She's able to do so many events. So again, super awesome opportunity. Super awesome blessing for South Callaway to have such a great weekend at the state track meet."

Three of South Callaway's all-state finishers -- Pahl (100 and 200 dash), Russell (boys javelin) and Colten Crocker (boys pole vault) -- will return for the 2024 season.

  photo  South Callaway freshman Reece Pahl competes in the Class 2 girls 200-meter dash on Saturday at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City. This was Pahl's third and final event of the day. (News Tribune/Kate Cassady)
 
 
  photo  South Callaway freshman Reece Pahl competes in the Class 2 girls long jump final on Saturday at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City. Pahl competed in three final events on Saturday. (News Tribune/Kate Cassady)