Warrior girls defeat rival Hillsboro; boys take second
Sports reporter
The story the past few years for the Marion High School girls' track team has been the same: talented players, but not enough members to compete.
Not anymore.
With 114 points Friday, the Warriors defeated 11 teams in the Mid-Central Activities Association including rival Hillsboro, which finished with 103 points, to claim the league championship.
"We were obviously thrilled to have competed so well at league," head coach Grant Thierolf said. "Our kids have been really working to get to this point of the season and are excited about the competition we are facing."
Thierolf has preached to his team the MCAA is one of the best track leagues in the state, and a high place at the league meet usually means an athlete is a state level competitor.
If that's the case, MHS could have a great showing in Wichita later this month.
One of those easily on track for the state meet is senior Erin Carr. She swept the 100 and 200-meter dashes with times of 12.20 and 25.50 seconds.
The final home races for Carr were both individual meet and school records for the Emporia State-bound sprinter. Thierolf is glad she is on his side.
"She has been a great leader for our young sprint corps," he said. "and gives them a great sense of confidence during a meet."
Another consistent competitor who did well again at the meet is senior Danielle Cope. She racked up another first-place finish in the 3200m run with a time of 12 minutes, 12.55 seconds. She also finished fourth in the 1600m run, one spot behind sophomore teammate Camille Christensen.
"She dominated the 3200m run and has worked so hard during the past year, putting in miles on her own in order to make herself better," Thierolf said.
Erin Richmond, battling an injury, hung with her two senior teammates, finishing second in the javelin and fourth in the pole vault. The javelin toss of 117 feet, six inches, was a personal record for the 2006-state qualifying Richmond.
"She gets healthier every day and has her sights set on state," Thierolf said.
The trio of seniors led the way for Marion, but their leadership during the season has helped a group of young athletes put the Warriors over the top.
Freshman Julia Zeiner wowed the competition by winning the long jump with a leap of 17-.05, defeating senior Wichita State University-bound Hannah Marsh by nine inches.
Marsh did get the best of Zeiner in the pole vault, but Zeiner also was second in the 400m dash, completing a successful day in her first MCAA meet.
"To win a league championship in the long jump and to place second in two other events is a testament to her competitiveness and her athletic ability," Thierolf said.
Junior Kalaya Jackson racked up a league championship as well, taking first in the triple jump.
"[She] has gotten so much stronger this year and has become a league champion because of the work," Thierolf said.
Christensen, Amanda Richmond, and Kimber Hardey all racked up points to help Marion claim the championship.
Christensen placed third in the 1600m run and fourth in the 3200m run, Richmond was fourth in the 800m dash, and Hardey placed fifth in the shot put. The throw for the junior was a career best. Christensen was sick during the week and impressed Thierolf by showing her resilience. Richmond's hard work in the weight room all year is proving to make a difference here at the end of the season.
The 4x100m relay team of Heerey, Zeiner, Carr, and Steinborn lowered its school record in the event, taking first place with a time of 50.56.
"A very good day for the lady Warriors," Thierolf said.
Boys
It might not have been a championship for the boys' team, but a second place finish didn't have Thierolf complaining.
The seniors led the way on the boys' side as well, despite having just one champion.
Kalaya's brother Emmanuel carried home the long jump title with a leap of 20-1. He also was fourth in the 400m dash, and one-fourth of the second-place 4x400m relay team.
"He has responded well to the challenges we put in front of him," Thierolf said, "and will lead our jumpers' corps into the regional meet."
Two Hetts, Jason and Kyle, have their sights set on the state track meet, with two different agendas. Jason is trying to get back there for a better showing in the 4x800m relay, and Kyle is striving for his first time in Wichita after three injury-plagued years.
"[Jason] is a great competitor who wants to end his season on the medal stand in Wichita," Thierolf said. "[Kyle] is very talented and does well in a number of events."
Those events Friday were the 200m dash and discus where he finished fifth in both.
Although Jason did not earn an individual medal, he did anchor both the 4x400 and 4x800m relay teams to second-place finishes.
Four other competitors helped lead the way in a stacked senior class for the Warriors.
John Barr III (second, 4x800m relay), Daniel Goentzel (fourth, 3200m run), Ben Leppke (fourth triple jump, fifth 100m dash), and Tobias Brauer (second, triple jump) all contributed to the Warriors' great day.
Leppke had career bests in both the events he placed in, and German exchange student Brauer had a "wunderbar day" according to Thierolf.
"We are very proud of our seniors and how they competed," Thierolf said.
Just like the girls' team, the boys used some underclassmen as well to help score points. Most notably was Jake Czarnowsky who was second in the 300m hurdles, and fourth in the 110m hurdles.
"Jake is so strong in the hurdles," Thierolf said. "He has made himself a very competitive runner in those events."
Junior Justin Heidebrecht and freshman Ryan Jones were fifth and sixth in the 1600m run.
Six other underclassmen placed for MHS at the meet: Nick Klenda, fourth, discus; Luke Gordon, fifth, high jump; Sheldon Boone, third, javelin; Brand Klenda, fifth, pole vault; Randy Carlson, sixth, pole vault; Tylor Neil, fifth, triple jump.
Distance runners Jones, Charlie Holub, Adam Regnier, Louis Holt, and Eric Vogel all ran their best races of the year according to Thierolf who was undoubtedly pleased with the team's performance.
"We just didn't have enough top-end points to catch Sterling this year," he said. "But to score as many points as we did with only one first-place finish is fantastic."
Regionals
Both teams will be in Cheney Friday for the regional meet, which will determine who qualifies for state. It is the only meet of the season that has an effect on state. The top-four finishers in each event will move on to Wichita May 25-26 for the chance at a state championship.
