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MHS track: Warriors rack up points at league meet

Sports reporter

The Marion High School boys' and girls' track and field teams showed they are ready for regional competition with two third-place finishes Friday at the Mid-Central Activities Association meet at Bethany College in Lindsborg.

MHS will play host Friday to one of four 3A regionals.

"We had a very good day with 26 personal records and team bests for the year," head coach Grant Thierolf said.

The girls' squad scored 89 points in its field of 12 teams, and the boys' scored 75 in their field of 11.

Of the 15 individual or team medals for the girls' team, Julia Zeiner and Camille Christensen were the only two Warriors to win an event.

Zeiner took first in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 46.97 seconds, and also finished second in the triple jump, pole vault, and long jump.

"Julia continued to get better in the 300s and looks to be in great shape for regionals," Thierolf said.

Christensen's time of 12 minutes, 45.95 seconds in the 3200m run earned her first place, while a time of 5:48.01 in the 1600 gave her second.

"She ran a whale of a 1600/3200 combination, and is peaking at the right time of year," Thierolf said.

The boys' team earned 15 medals, led by Nick Klenda who grabbed the only first-place medal.

His discus throw of 145 feet, eight inches was more than eight feet farther than runner-up Sam Klaassen of Smoky Valley.

"He helped push or boys' team to the third-place finish," Thierolf said.

So did fellow throwers Sheldon Boone and Mitchell Leppke.

The sophomore and junior had some of their best performances of the year in the javelin toss.

Leppke was second with a throw of 160-10, and Boone was third at 157-2.

"They scored some big points for us," Thierolf said. "A great day of throwing for the Warriors."

On the throwing side for the girls, senior Kimber Hardey just missed a medal with a seventh-place finish in the shot put, but Thierolf said it was a career-best throw.

"It is as tough to place here as it is at many regionals," he said.

The rest of the girls' running corps had a strong day as well.

Along with Zeiner and Christensen, Amanda Richmond, Bridget Lundy, and Kristen Steinborn earned individual medals in running events.

Steinborn was third in the 200m dash, Richmond fifth in the 800, and Lundy sixth in the 3200.

Thierolf was impressed with all three finishes.

Kayley Heerey and Kalaya Jackson each earned some points in the triple jump.

Jackson, a league champ a year ago, was third, while Heerey took fifth.

"They performed well against some great competition," Thierolf said.

The rest of the points came from medaling in all three relay events.

The 4x100m team of Heerey, Jackson, Danae Edwards, and Steinborn was second with a time of 51.84, Richmond, Edwards, Jaclyn DeForest, and Heerey were third in the 4x400 with a time of 4:29.19, and DeForest, Donna Cady, Lundy, and Richmond took third in the 4x800 with a time of 11:08.13.

"Our sprint crew ran well," Thierolf said, "with Steinborn, Edwards, and Heerey running very well."

Along with the throwers on the boys' team, the jumping corps earned some points as well.

Luke Gordon continued his solid high jumping with a second-place finish after clearing 6-2.

Tylor Neil, who has been consistent in the triple jump all season, was again toward the top of the pack with a leap of 39-10.50, and a fourth-place finish.

He also took sixth in the long jump.

"They jumped very well for us," Thierolf said.

MHS entered three pole vaulters into competition and came away with two medals.

Brad Klenda was fifth (12-0) and Chase Carlson finished sixth (10-6).

"They are really coming on in that event," Thierolf said.

Another strong day for MHS runners also helped the Warriors take third place.

Elliot Hett was just one of two Warrior boys to earn two individual medals.

He was fourth in the 300m hurdles and sixth in the 110m hurdles.

Senior Justin Heidebrecht finished in the top three in the 800 yet again for MHS, this time taking second place after a time of 2:01.23.

Heidebrecht also helped anchor the 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams sixth and second-place finishes.

"Justin ran a great 800," Thierolf said.

Adam Regnier, who took nearly five seconds off his previous best time, was third in the 800 at 2:05.29.

Ryan Jones took third in the 1600 and Charlie Holub came in at sixth in the 3200.

Jones, a sophomore, only finished behind the defending state champion from Sterling, and senior Cody McMillen of Hillsboro.

"He is making a run for state and will be ready to go," Thierolf said of Jones.

The veteran coach knows his team will be ready to host regionals Friday, and benefit from running on a familiar course.

And if Friday was any indicator, both teams should be just fine.

"All in all, a good day," Thierolf said of the league meet.

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