The Mules Booster Club has named Khelie Spence and Xzavier Bartlett of Poplar Bluff High School the May Athletes of the Month, presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors. 

Track runner Xzavier Bartlett of the PBHS Class of 2019 earned All-State honors in the 400-meter dash. He qualified for state in both the 4x200 and the 400-meter, placing eighth in the latter event during the Class 5 MSHSAA Track Meet. Xzavier previously qualified for sectionals in the 4x800, 4x400, 4x200 and the 400-meter. In the classroom, he maintained a 9.1 grade point average. 

“Great young man; hardest worker on the team; team player,” commented Mark Barousse, Xzavier’s coach. “[He] ran anything we asked him to, from the 100-meter to the 800-meter.” 

Khelie Spence, an incoming senior track runner, is the first female student-athlete for Poplar Bluff to have earned All-State honors on the Class 5 level in 2017, continuing to earn All-State honors in the 100 hurdles for three years. In addition, she earned All-Sectionals in the 100 hurdles, and All-District in the 100 hurdles, 4x100 relay and long jump. In the classroom, she maintains an 11.0 GPA. 

“Khelie has a great attitude and is an amazing leader,” said Beth Lewis, her coach. “She is willing to participate in any track event that she is asked to in order to help her team. She is willing to go above and beyond to help her teammates. She is a true joy to work with.” 

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Cutline: Presenting the AOM awards to Xzavier Bartlett and Khelie Spence on Wednesday, June 5, is Booster Club member Brian Taylor.