Fatima junior Brie Massman successfully defended her Class 3 MSHSAA State Track and Field Championships in the 800-meter title on Friday, May 23, and led a strong Comet showing that included a state runner-up finish from senior pole vaulter Drew Riegel and three additional all-state performances.

Massman repeated as state champion in the 800, overcoming both pressure and a formidable challenger to win in a school-record 2:14.55. The time shattered her previous school record by nearly five seconds and lowered her season-best mark by nine seconds. Entering the meet, Massman knew she would face a challenge from Bayless standout Gabrielle Campbell, whose season-best time was nearly six seconds faster than her own.

“I was really, really nervous going into it,” Massman said. “But Coach Bridges helped me take deep breaths. Just him talking to me helped.”

After opening the race with a 1:04.95 first lap, Massman found herself locked in a duel with Campbell, who refused to let the defending champion build an early lead as she had a year ago. Campbell briefly moved ahead with approximately 150 meters remaining, but Massman responded with a strong finishing kick down the final straightaway to reclaim the lead and secure the win.

Massman admitted there was a moment late in the race when she had concerns about Campbell’s closing speed. “The last 300, I knew she was a fast sprinter, so I was kind of a little worried there, but I figured I could push myself hard enough to stay in front of her,” she said.

After crossing the finish line, the emotions of successfully defending her championship finally set in. “Yes. I was so happy,” Massman said simply.

Coach Marc Bridges described Massman as “truly a one-of-a-kind competitor and athlete.”

Riegel delivered one of the most memorable performances of the meet for Fatima, matching his personal-best vault of 4.65 meters (15’3”) to earn second place in Class 3. The medal capped a remarkable senior season after he finished eighth as a sophomore and failed to advance beyond districts as a junior.

The turning point came when Riegel cleared 4.55 meters and elected to pass the next height, conserving energy and allowing a competitor to exit the competition. The strategy paid off when he returned and cleared 4.65 meters on his second attempt, temporarily moving into first place. He ultimately finished second when Blair Oaks’ Thomas Gonzalez cleared 4.70 meters.

While Riegel entered the season believing a state medal was possible, he said he never assumed success would come easily. “I could see it happening, but I didn’t expect it to turn out this way,” he said. “I knew with the field that we had, I had the possibility to do some great things, but I wasn’t going to come in here expecting anything. It’s really hard to do this out here.”

Riegel credited improved consistency for his breakthrough season.

“My form has gotten really consistent this year, and that’s something that I’m just amazed by,” he said. “I’m shocked that I was able to get it to this level.”

Bridges praised Riegel’s four-year career, saying he “has literally reset the bar for future Comets” and developed into one of the state’s top vaulters regardless of classification.

Riegel was motivated in part by a sea of Blue & Gold in the stands cheering him on. “It’s crazy, the amount of support we have,” Riegel said. “A lot of teams have drama, but our team is a close-knit family. It’s just amazing having all that support. It helps you get all that energy going.”

Fatima’s 4x800-meter relay team of Michael Gabelsberger, Zack Eisterhold, Wyatt Dake, and Zach Kloeppel also earned all-state honors, placing sixth while setting a new school record of 8:08.60. Kloeppel’s 1:55.27 anchor split carried the Comets from 10th place into medal contention.

On Saturday, Maggie Peters added another all-state performance with a fifth-place finish in the pole vault at 3.10 meters (10’2”). Bridges said Peters benefited from focusing exclusively on pole vault this season after balancing four state events a year ago.

Meanwhile, the girls’ 4x800 relay of Melissa Verslues, Alex Berhorst, Avery Berhorst, and Massman earned all-state honors with a seventh-place finish and season-best time of 9:58.73. After running 10:14 at districts and 10:07 at sectionals, the group broke the 10-minute barrier on the sport’s biggest stage.

“It felt really good to do it with my teammates,” Massman said. “All those girls, it was their first year running track, so it’s just really special for me to get to do it with them, too.”

Fatima was also represented at state by Grant Wilbers, who finished 12th in the javelin with a throw of 45.26 meters, and placed 15th in the 300 hurdles with the season’s second-fastest time of 42.09 despite battling a hip injury.

The girls’ 4x400 relay of Avery Berhorst, Alex Berhorst, Addy Bower, and Massman lowered its season-best time to 4:12.05 and finished 12th after entering the meet seeded 15th.

As a team, the Lady Comets finished 18th in Class 3 with 16 points, while the boys were 25th with 11 points.