Two years ago, Megan Walker left Dwight T. Reed Stadium a two-time medalist and helped Worth County to its second straight state track title.

She returns to today’s Missouri State Track and Field Championships for the first time since as the same solid thrower. The pond just got a little bigger.

Walker traded in her black and gold at Worth County for Maryville’s green and yellow — a move that included a dramatic leap from Class 1 to Class 3. Instead of a potential state champ, she enters the throwing events with an outside shot at a medal.

“If I had a bad day in Class 1, it would still be good enough to place pretty high,” Walker said. “This year, there’s not as much room for error.”

Still one of the area’s better throwers, Walker enters the meet seeded 10th in the shot put (36 feet, 5 1/2 inches) and discus (112-10). She believes her prior trip as a freshman will help her nerves but knows it will likely take a season-best effort to earn some hardware.

“It’s kind of intimidating, but I have a pretty good idea of what I have to do,” Walker said.

Walker is one of the few Spoofhounds with previous experience, however. Other than herself, Jordan Stiens and John Farmer, the rest of Maryville’s six qualifiers will compete at the state event for the first time.

Junior John Rogers, who made it in both the 800-meter run and 4x400-meter relay, will spend most of today trying to keep his nerves under control in the crowded grandstands.

“Coach (Chris Holt) said there’s usually between 4,000 and 5,000 people watching,” Rogers said, a nervous smile creeping across his face.

After a fourth-place finish at sectionals, the 4x400 became the school’s first relay to make it to state since the Spoofhounds sent three in 2004. Comprised of three juniors and a sophomore, the team knocked 1 1/2 seconds off its previous season best and will have to do so again to advance to Saturday’s final.

With a strong junior class leading the way, Holt hopes a successful trip this year will continue to fuel the team’s resurgence.

“They know they’ve got to improve if they want a medal, sure,” Holt said. “But with this group all being underclassmen, that’s what makes it so nice — knowing they could be a really special group next season.”

Among other area schools, Chillicothe’s girls with take 13 athletes down this weekend after the Hornets’ got two relays (4x200 and 4x800) through sectionals. The 4x800 squad advanced to state for the third time in four years but hasn’t medaled since 2005.

Samantha Figg (pole vault) and Leanne Mathew (high jump) are Chillicothe’s only individual qualifiers.

Three city athletes will start their days early, as Central’s Justin Love and Mackenzie Evans and Lindsay Laderoute of Lafayette will compete in the preliminaries of the high hurdle events. Laderoute, who also will run in the 300 hurdles, is the only one with a previous trip to state under her belt.

Additional city participants include Lafayette’s Kyle Williams (long jump), Benton’s Taylor Woodruff (3,200) and the Cardinals’ girls 4x400-meter relay team.

Sports reporter Andy Meyer can be reached at andymeyer@npgco.com