MHS track: Younger athletes shine
Sports reporter
Marion High School took four girls, and a young crop of boys April 8 to the Centre CKTL at the MHS track.
Each athlete only is allowed a certain amount of meets, and head coach Grant Thierolf felt this was a good time to give his younger athletes and others trying new events a chance to show what they can do.
"What we are looking for is, are they making improvement," Thierolf said of the younger athletes." "Virtually across the board they were."
The boys' team registered 53 points and took third place out of five teams.
Luke Gordon and Randy Carlson each earned first-place medals in events.
Carlson cleared nine feet, six inches on the pole vault, and Gordon cleared 5-10 in the high jump.
Gordon also took fifth in the triple and long jumps.
Dillon Richmond impressed Thierolf as well, taking second in the pole vault, third in the 300-meter hurdles, and fourth in the 110m hurdles.
"He had never run hurdles before, and stepped in there and did a great job for us," Thierolf said of the freshman.
Another freshman competing in an event for the first time was Colin Eurit.
He took fourth place in the 400m dash with a time of 58.72 seconds.
"He ran a great quarter," Thierolf said. "We were very pleased with that."
Other placers included Randy Regnier (fourth, 800m run), Les Riggs (fourth, triple jump), Doug Schroeder (fifth, shot put), and Andy Shipman (fifth, 800 and 1600m runs).
The team also placed in all three relay events.
Riggs, Regnier, Eurit, and Mark Kukuk were second in the 4x100m relay, Richmond, Eurit, Gordon, and Shipman third in the 4x400, and Michael Kirkpatrick, Brandon Meierhoff, Shipman, and Regnier third in the 4x800.
Emily Hett registered the only two points for the girls' side with fifth-place finishes in the triple and high jumps.
Megan Carter and Melissa and Tyshia Penwell participated, and according to Thierolf improved from their early-season performances.
"This type of experience is invaluable for them," Thierolf said of all his young athletes.
With the weather staying cold and windy, Thierolf said all team members are just focusing on training, and staying in shape for later meets.
"We cut down the length of practice, but we make them productive," he said. "It's a mental thing more than anything."
Theirolf noted even the state meet in May could be cold and windy, and with the practice regime they have in place, his team will be fine.
"We're still going to be prepared for each meet," he said.
The Warriors will make up a canceled meet from Friday at Smoky Valley, at 4:30 p.m. Monday.
They will head to Halstead Friday for the Conrad Nightengale Invitational.
