It was a big night for area track at the annual Highland Invitational Monday in Riverside.
In the girls side of the event, Mid-Prairie came home with the team championship, scoring 138 points. The Golden Hawks had five event championships on the night. Mitzi Evans won the 800 in a meet record time of 2:27.25. Marie Hostetler was a winner in the 3000 with a meet record time of 11:33.41. Kessa Jones took home the title in the 400 hurdles in 1:11.16. It was a meet record and championship time for the 4×100 team of Amber Swart, Maddie Edgington and Mitzi and Abbagail Evans who were winners in 51.13 seconds. The Hawks also took the sprint medley in a meet record time of 1:54.28 with a team of Mitzi and Abbagail Evans, Maddie Edgington and Amber Swart. Other top finishes for the Hawks included Angelina Evans second in the 1500, Tori Boyse second in the discus, and second for the 4×200 team of Swart, Cassidy Rourke, Edgington and Abbagail Evans. Moriah Brase was third in the 1500, Brittany Kinsinger third in the high jump and Rylee Vercande third in the shot put. The 4×400 team of Kessa Jones, Sarah Meader, Kate Cavanagh and Kitty Conway, the distance medley team of Colby Brown, Alyssa McDowell, Kitty Conway, Kate Cavanagh and the shuttle hurdle team of Kessa Jones, Sidney Davis, Sarah Meader and Jill Owen were all third. After the meet, Mid-Prairie head girls coach Chris Tyler talked about the team title. “It’s always a good ending to the night when you can walk away with the championship. It’s not our main focus until districts and state, but when it happens like that it’s nice. Kessa Jones had a big night for us, especially in the 400 hurdles where she dropped two seconds. Our girls got a boost because of the nice weather tonight, the first nice weather meet we have really had this season. Across the board our times were phenomenal tonight.”
Other area girls team finishes included Highland fifth with 69 points. The Huskies had one championship event on the night with the 4×200 team of Sarah Schneider, Aly Stokes, Kristy Thomann, and Emily Yahnke bringing home gold in a meet record time of 1:50.99. Other top finishes for Highland included runner-up for the 4×100 team of Sarah Schneider, Aly Stokes, Kristy Thoman and Emily Yahnke and second for the 4×800 team of Taylor Sublette, Fiona Mahler, Alyssa Clark and Maddie Thomann. Aly Stokes was third in the 200, Taylor Sublette third in the 400 and Emily Yahnke third in the long jump.
Lone Tree was seventh in the team standings with 32 points. Top finishes for the Lions included second for Kasey Chown in the high jump, second for Lexi Norris in the 400 and second for the distance medley team of Holley Johnson, Kasey Chown, Macie Bopp and Natalie Patterson.
WACO was eighth with 28 points. The Warriors had one championship event on the night with the WACO shuttle hurdle team of Grace Conwell, Maggie Rinner, Laney Graber and Molly McLaughlin taking gold in a meet record time of 1:13.96. McLaughlin was also second in the 100 hurdles.
On the boys side, Mid-Prairie had the top team finish, taking second place with 135 points. Tipton won the team title with 139. Mid-Prairie crowned five event champions on the night including Elmir Ganibegovic in the 200 at 23.05 seconds. Brad Tornow took the 800 in 2:07.61. Jack Baker cleaned up in field events winning the title in the shot put with a throw of 42’6″ and the discus with a toss of 134’11”. The Golden Hawk 4×200 team Clarke Latchem, Elmir Ganibegovic, Quinn Schmidt and Grant Boyse in a meet record 1:33.26. Other top finishes for the Golden Hawks included Grant Boyse second in the 200, Miles Burrows second in the 400 hurdles, second for the 4×100 team of Clarke Latchem, Elmir Ganibegovic, Quinn Schmidt and Grant Boyse, second for the 4×400 team of Miles Burrows, Quinn Schmidt, Brad Tornow and Clarke Latchem, and second for the shuttle hurdle team of Clarke Latchem, Justice Jones, Jack Baker and Caleb Thomas. Grant Boyse was third in the 100, Thaddeus Shetler third in the mile, the 4×800 team of Justin Schwartz, Thaddeus Shetler, Jacob Nonnenmann and Jamison Stutzman, the sprint medley team of Caleb Thomas, Josh Wallington, Elmir Ganibegovic and Jack Baker and the distance medley team of Dylan Bunting, Josh Wallington, Caleb Thomas and Spencer Yutzy all were third.
Lone Tree was fifth with 46 points. Top finishes for the Lions included second for the distance medley team of Alex Viner, Konner Coppinger, Avery Knock and Keegan Edwards. Cale Yoder was third in the shot put, Tyler Bell third in the discus, the relay team of Alex Vinder, Cade Patterson, Caleb Viers and Levi Sotzen along with the 4×400 team of Keegan Edwards, Avery Knock, Cade Shield and Harmon Miller were also third.
Highland was sixth with 44 points. Top finishes for the Huskies included Zack Lasek runner-up in the discus, Bradley Rodgers second in the shot put and the 4×200 team of Mason McFarland, Kadin Jepson, Connor Grinstead and Trey Lasek third. It was also senior night for the Huskies, after the meet Highland head coach Angie Strobel talked about this group of seniors. “I have an excellent group, it’s going to be hard to see them go. They have been very successful in a lot of different events. I am looking forward to watching them finish the season with style and at state. I think they are all capable. They all have kind hearts and a fierce competitive spirit. That makes a great combination for a teammate.”
WACO was eighth with 33 points. The top finishes for the Warriors came from Elijah McGohan at third in the 400 and Colton Horak third in the 110 hurdles.