Boys fifth, girls seventh

By MIKE NORRIS

Sports editor

When 15 of your 20 athletes medal at the state track and field meet, it’s a good day.

Grant Thierolf’s Marion High School squad did just that this weekend at Wichita State University’s Cessna Stadium.

Julia Zeiner led the way, earning two golds and a silver to go with a fifth-place medal.

However, she was far from the only Warrior to bring home hardware.

Nick Klenda had the other Marion gold, earning first in the discus. His throw of 167 feet even was a personal best by 11 feet.

He was the final thrower and in second place until he let his championship throw go.

“Nick decided he was going to take it back,” Thierolf said. “It was a great competition. I think every kid PR’d. That’s what you want to have happen.”

Klenda, Thierolf said, was happier than anyone to record a personal record.

“He was bouncing around like a 5-year-old in Toys ’R’ Us,” he said.

Senior Elliot Hett was bouncing around the track himself, taking fourth in both hurdles events.

He was the seventh seed going into the finals of the 300-meter hurdles but finished fourth.

“He really just attacked the first 150 meters,” Thierolf said. “That is a great way for him to end his career.”

Four days after medaling at the state golf meet, senior Luke Gordon took third in the high jump, earning a medal for a second straight season.

“I was thrilled with Luke,” Thierolf said.

Tylor Neil took four in the triple jump with a long jump of 43 feet even. Thierolf said the junior jumped as far as he could.

“You have to be thrilled with that,” Thierolf said.

Mitchell Leppke was the final boys’ medalist, taking seventh in the pole vault.

The 4x800m relay team of Ryan Jones, Eric Vogel, Adam Regnier, and Louis Holt knocked almost 13 seconds off its personal best time to take seventh place. Vogel shaved nearly 7 seconds off his best, and Holt shaved five seconds.

Thierolf said Regnier was in ninth place when he took the baton as anchor. He ended in seventh.

“That was fun to see him finish off his career like that,” Thierolf said. “That was probably the best race he has ever run.”

Brad Klenda was 11th in the pole vault after clearing 12 feet.

Four years after the senior class scored only four points in its eighth grade league meet, seniors accounted for four individual medals and a relay medal at state.

Warrior girls

Zeiner had arguably the best day ever for a female Warrior at a state meet.

She had a hand in 31 of the team’s 32 points, including 28 individual points. Thierolf said she became the first female winner of multiple gold medals in school history.

“She just had a great day,” Thierolf said.

Her day included golds in the triple and long jumps and a silver in the 300-meter hurdles. She also was part of the 4x100 relay that took fifth.

Her leap in the triple jump was about eight inches away from the 3A meet record.

“She really had her sights set on that, but she has next year to work on it,” Thierolf said.

Her silver in the 300 hurdles might have been a gold had Douglass not dropped from 4A to 3A this season. She took second to Cara Barnes of Douglass.

Thierolf said injuries and Douglass being in 3A had nothing to do with the 4x100 relay not defending its title. The tandem of Zeiner, Kayley Heerey, Danae Edwards, and Kristen Steinborn took fifth.

Injuries plagued the team earlier in the season.

“We can’t use that as an excuse at all,” Thierolf said said. “It’s just one of those things. The competition was very good. There is nothing wrong with that.”

The other medal for the Warriors girls’ team was senior Camille Christensen.

She was back at the state meet after medaling her freshman year and she took the final spot on the awards stand in the 3,200.

“I was pleased with her. It was a great run,” Thierolf said.

Freshman Whitney Gordon took 10th in the high jump in her first year of competition.

The 4x800 relay team took 14th place.

Seniors Christensen and Amanda Richmond were part of the team.

Thierolf said the team will miss them next season.

“They just bring a great disposition to practice every day,” he said. “Every time we think of them in practice, we will smile.”