2018 Boys Track and Field Finalists

Ean Buffington

Already a two-time Semoball Awards finalist in cross country, Buffington had a standout spring season on the track as well. The senior wrapped up his high school career with a bronze medal in the 1,600 meters with a time of 4:24.19 at the Class 5 state meet, where he also finished ninth in the 3,200. He was a dual champion at the district level, winning both events, and a SEMO Conference champ in the 1,600 and 800.

Trevor Lukefahr

The senior reached his peak level of performance in his final spring, pushing past the field to win the Class 2 state title in the 400-meter run with a time of 49.941, while also earning bronze in the 200 with a time of 22.63. In the 400 — his best event — he also earned a sectional and district championship and was also the district winner in the 200. A multi-sport standout, this is his first Semoball Awards nod.

Jackson Wilson

A two-time finalist in football, Wilson capped off a stellar high school athletic career as a thrower for the Green Wave, capturing a Class 2 gold medal in the shot put with a throw of 51 feet, 6 3/4 inches. He was a sectional champion in the event as well, and swept the throwing events at the district meet, also topping the field with a 134-1 in the discus.

Wyatt Murphy

Murphy was a jack of all trades for the Mules, performing at a high level in a bevy of events — which is why he’ll be continuing he track career as a decathlete for the Air Force Academy. He wrapped up his Poplar Bluff career with a Class 5 all-state finish in the 200-meter dash, in which he ran a 21.95, and also finished ninth in the 100 with a 10.98. He won the sectional meet in both of those events an ran in the 400 relay. He won the 100 and 200 at both the district and conference level, the latter of which he also took second in the 400.

Jeremy Tucker

Southeast Missouri State football coach Tom Matukewicz, who will coach Tucker this fall at the college level, said he was blown away by Tucker’s ability as a jumper in track and field. The Blue Jays’ standout impressed all spring, finishing third at state with a high jump of 6-4 and finishing on the sectional podium in the high jump, triple jump and long jump, qualifying for state in the first of those two events; he was a district champion in the high jump and triple jump (40-5). His nomination here adds to two football finalist selections already on his resume.