MHS track: Warriors find success at Beloit, Hillsboro
Sports reporter
Most of the Marion High School track team headed west at 6 a.m. Friday for the Beloit Relays.
The few hung around at Hillsboro's James Thomas Invitational at Bethel College, Newton, and made a name for themselves.
Junior Luke Gordon and freshman Kathy Goering both placed in the high jump at Bethel, the only Warriors earning points.
Goering took fourth with a leap of four feet, eight inches, and Gordon won the event after clearing 6-4.
"We were thrilled with Luke and Kathy," MHS head coach Grant Thierolf said. "It goes to show you can do a lot of good things without any coaching around."
Thierolf and the rest of the staff were at the Beloit Relays.
The 12-team event consisted of some Mid-Central Activities Association schools, but mainly others that the Warriors do not compete against each week.
"It was a good solid meet," Thierolf said. "They really enjoy going to that meet."
The all-day event provides a state-like feel for the athletes.
"They like the all-day concept," Thierolf said.
Tylor Neil and Julia Zeiner may have liked it the most, as each took home gold medals from their events.
Neil's triple jump of 40-5.50 was the day's best, as was Zeiner's jump of 35-11.50.
Zeiner was first in the long jump as well with a leap of 16-3.
She took second in the pole vault, and Jackson was fourth in the long jump, and sixth in the triple jump.
Justin Heidebrecht (800m run), Nick Klenda (discus), and Elliot Hett (300m hurdles), each just missed a first-place medal, coming in second.
Kimber Hardey was fifth in the shot put and discus, and Hett and Klenda each medaled in separate events as well.
"We had a lot of good entries," Thierolf said.
Overall, 15 athletes placed in at least one event for a total of 20 individual medals.
The boys' 4x400 and 4x800-meter relay teams placed, as well as the girls' 4x100 and 4x400 teams.
With just two more events before regionals, Thierolf needs his teams to be hitting their stride.
"We're getting there," he said.
The final tune-ups before regionals are Thursday at the Hesston Invitational, and May 9 at the MCAA league meet hosted by Smoky Valley.
