2016 Wayne State College Track Indoor Invitational - Results
Eagles run well at Wayne State Indoor…….
The Eagle boys and girl track squads took to the track on Friday, March 18t at Wayne State College, to test the waters of what may be a test for things to come. 15 schools were in attendance, making the competition for this early in the year very difficult.
The Eagles using the meet as a practice for the upcoming outdoor season, which begins March 29th at Hartington, placed several individuals and relays.
The Eagles garnered only one first place finish on the day, that coming in the 4 X 800 relay. The Eagles won the race in 9:17. Members of the winning quartet were S.T. O’Keefe, Bud Kneifl, Tayler Kumm and Devin Twohig.
Second place finishes on the day were recorded by Gabby Sullivan in the high jump and triple jump along with S.T O’Keefe in the 800 and the boys 4 X 400 relay. Sullivan lost a jump off for the first place medal in the high jump, but her 4’10” effort gave her the second place finish. Sullivan then jumped 32’ in the triple jump to take second place. S.T O’Keefe led almost the entire 800 meter race, running 2:19, before being nudged at the finish for the gold medal. The boys 4 X 400 relay members, S.T. O’Keefe, Kyle Smith, Jacob Williams and Tayler Kumm ran a solid second to Hartington, in a 4:04 time.
Three athletes collected third place medals. Tayler Kumm ran 5:03 in the 1,600, only losing to a pair of Class C qualifiers in 2015. Seniors Lexi Oswald and Kaylen Smith won medals in the 3,200 and 55 hurdles respectively. Oswald made the 20 lap journey in 14:00. Smith pranced over the obstacles in 10.05.
Oswald also gained a fifth place finish in the 1,600 with a 6:12 clocking. Freshmen, Kyle Smith, brought home a fifth place medal in the 55 hurdles clocking a 9.74. Junior, Garrett Brentlinger hit a personal best and a gritty performance to place sixth in the 800 with a 2:27 clocking.
Rounding out the the medalists was the girls 4 X 400 relay, which came in sixth. Members were Bri Hingst, Kaylen Smith, Haley Stapleton and Lexi Oswald.
The Eagles next compete in the Cedar Catholic Invitational, on Tuesday, March 29. Meet time is set for 1:00.
COACHES COMMENTS:
“The squads performed well, whether or not they placed or not. Many of our times by athletes were very comparable or slightly better than the 2015 meet. That is a good start. The squads were both short in number due to school activities so we experimented in some areas. We label the meet as a practice competition in which we did not go with any athlete in more than 3 events, and several in only one or two. The coaches liked what they saw. Effort, pride in the athlete while competing, and athletes supporting one another. We have hard working kids that want to be successful, and as the season moves forward, we will see them improve as individuals, whether or not they place in a meet.”