Staff writer
Colten Johnson was the team leader in points scored as the Marion High School boys’ track team took third place Friday in the Smoky Valley Invitational at Lindsborg.
Johnson soared 13 feet in the pole vault for the only first-place finish of the day for Marion. Johnson placed third in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 16.43 seconds, and third in the 300 hurdles, finishing the race in 42.32.
Zach Hammond placed second in the pole vault with a 12-0 vault.
“Once again Colten led us in scoring,” Marion head coach Grant Thierolf said. “He had a very solid day vaulting as he and Zach scored some big points in that event. We also tried Colten in the 300 hurdles and he ran a great time for his first time through the event.”
Jordan Hett took second in the 3,200 with a time of 10:28.8, and his time of 4:40.9 was good enough for fourth in the 1,600.
“Jordan ran very well in a loaded field in both the 1,600 and 3,200, and his 1,600 time was very, very fast for this early in the year,” Thierolf said.
Marion faced stiff competition in the field events, but still managed to collect points in all but the shot put.
Dakin Ledford threw the discus 122-2 and hurled the javelin 142-7 to claim fourth in both events. Spencer Fugitt nailed down fifth in discus with a 121-6 toss.
“Our throwers had a little bit of a rough time, but we still scored some points. Dakin was solid in the discus and javelin, and our other throwers learned some valuable lessons about throwing in a big meet,” Thierolf said.
James Jones took third in the triple jump, leaping 40-4.5, and fifth in long jump with a 19-9 effort. Patrick McCarty was close behind in sixth place with a jump of 19-5.
The 4x400 relay of Brody Carroll, Johnson, Jones, and McCarty wrapped up Marion scoring with a third-place finish in 3:32.8.
Girls
Whitney Gordon was the top individual performer for the Lady Warriors, winning the high jump with a leap of 5-0 and placing third in the 100 hurdles with a personal record time of 16.67.
“We are trying to find another event for her to compete in so that we can maximize our points for the league meet,” Thierolf said.
Kaelyn Thierolf once again turned in strong performances in the distance events with a 5:53.3 second-place finish in the 1,600 and placing fourth in the 3,200 in 12:56.7.
“Kaelyn ran very well in the 1,600, showing a very good kick,” Thierolf said. “She is a good, tough runner.”
Alicia Maloney took third place by clearing 8-6 in the pole vault.
A jump of 14-10 earned Kadecha Gueary fourth place in the long jump. She added a sixth-place finish in the triple jump with a 30-0.5 effort.
Katey Ehrlich ran the 300 hurdles in 52.29, placing sixth.
The 4x100 relay team of Erin Meierhoff, Ehrlich, Gordon, and Gueary finished fifth with a time of 53.75.
“We were just glad to get the meet in,” Thierolf said. “We had some very good performances today in a very tough early season meet.”
Marion hosted a Central Kansas Track League meet Tuesday, and will compete Friday in the Halstead Invitational.