Warriors show early season impact
Eric Clark
Sports Editor
The Marion High School track team found out Thursday afternoon at the Smoky Valley track meet where they will fall among the schools that will be competing against them in their regional later this season.
"We found out where we stood with many of the schools that will be coming to our regional," head coach Grant Thierolf said. "So from that standpoint it was good learning day for us. In most events on the track, we lowered our times and improved our performances."
Joel Versch continued his surge in the hurdle events finishing second in both the 110-meter hurdles and the 300-meter hurdles. Calvin Riggs finished third in the 110-meter hurdles and fourth in the 300-meter hurdles.
Overall, Thierolf said he thinks Versch and Riggs are becoming leaders on his squad.
"Joel Versch and Calvin Riggs continue to lead us on the track in the hurdle events," Thierolf said. "They both will make a strong push to qualify for the state track meet."
Riggs also tacked on a sixth-place finish in the triple jump with a leap of 39'1 1/2."
James Davis finished third in the pole vault clearing 13 feet and finished sixth in the high jump with a jump of 5'11."
"James Davis had his usual busy day early in the track meet and he did very well in all of the jumps," Thierolf said.
The throwers also took center stage. Alan Vogel took third in the shot put with a heave of 46'1." Steven Boone finished fourth and sixth in the discus and javelin respectively with throws of 132'4" and 149 feet.
"Alan Vogel threw very well in the shot put today and our other throwers are getting more comfortable in their events," Thierolf said.
Zac Ewert finished fourth in the 3200-meter run with a time of 10:44.58 to round out the boys' side.
While taking a haitus away from softball, senior Megan Moore managed to out-distance her competitors to take home a first-place finish in the javelin. Moore's throw was 120'2."
"Megan Moore really showed what hard work in the weight room will do with her performance in the javelin," Thierolf said. "She is only about a foot off the school record and will be shooting for it in the upcoming track meets."
Savannah Killough finished third in the javelin event with a toss of 99'9."
After an early scare in her first couple of vaults, Shawn Hett pulled out a third-place finish in the pole vault with a mark of 8'6."
Leann Thomas finished fourth in the discus with a throw of 110'6," while Brandi Shipman rounded out the field event winners with a sixth-place finish after a jump of 4'6."
Jessica DeForest was the only runner who placed on Thursday. DeForest finished sixth in the 3200-meter run with a time of 13:35.08.
"Our distance runners are starting to lower their times and by the end of the year, Jessica DeForest and Alissa Vogel are going to be very competitive," Thierolf said.
The Marion squad was at home on Tuesday and will travel to Halstead on Friday for the Halstead Invitational.
