For first time since 1970, Roxana boys track wins conference title

May 13-ROXANA - Led by a throws sweep from Dave Stanton, Roxana Shells boys track celebrated a Midwestern Conference championship in 1970.

Since that victory on their home track 56 years ago, the Shells had long memberships with the Mississippi Valley and South Central conferences that passed without a track title.

That drought ended Tuesday with the Shells celebrating a boys track championship in the last of their five seasons in the Cahokia Conference.

Roxana scored 157 points, with three-time defending champion Freeburg second with 147 points. Salem (112), Columbia (66), Breese Central (61) and East Alton-Wood River (12) completed the field in the 18-team conference's six-team Mississippi Division. With Roxana's departure, the league adds Civic Memorial, Jersey and Centralia to form an eight-team division of the league's largest schools.

The Shells left the Midwestern Conference in 1971 to join the MVC. In 1970, Stanton won the discus and set a Roxana record in the shot with a winning put at 58 feet, 9.5 inches at the league meet. That powered the Shells to 77 1/2 points and victory in a Midwestern field with Madison (68), Triad (54), Civic Memorial (15), Highland (11 1/2 ) and Dupo (11).

In 2026, Roxana inflicted much of its damage on the track.

The Shells ran 1-2 in the 200 meters, with sophomore Mekhi Shorter winning in 11.53 seconds while hitting the finish with junior teammate Jamir Carnell at 11.54. Cornell won the 400 in a PR time at 50.33 and ran third in the 200 in 23.48

Roxana senior Rylan Bisby was second in the 1,600 in 4:46.19 and junior Noah Crump was second in the 3,200 in 10:35.27. Freshman Matthew McGee posted a PR while taking second in the 300-meter hurdles in 43.33 and senior Anthony Hardin was third in the 800 meters in 1:59.98.

Shorter was a double winner, taking the long jump at 20-3, with Shells senior Levi Meadows second at 19-8. Junior Zane Losch was second in the discus at 156-5 and sophomore Chrishaun Sewell placed third in the triple jump with a PR at 40-10.5.

Roxana also posted top-three finishes in all four relays. Roxana won the 4x100 with Meadows, Shorter, William Stevens and Cornell circling the track in 44.11.

The Shells ran second in the 4x200 with Meadows, Brody Morris, Angel Santiago and Jace Coons finishing in 1:34.99, just behind Breese Central at 1:34.65. The 4x800 took second with Sewell, Jordan Akileh, Eimaj Murrell and Alessandro Vazques covering eight laps in 8:49.42.

The Shells' 4x400 placed third with Stevens, Peyton Pride, Easton Johnston and Sewell getting home in 3:34.10.

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This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 6:43 PM.