Last Friday, April 23rd, the Festus Varsity Boys and Girls Track and Field team competed in the De Soto High School Invitational Track Meet. This is one of the most challenging meets of the season, and the Tigers had some impressive performances. This was the Tigers last chance to prepare for the Conference Championship, which is happening this week.
In results for the boys, Reece Johnson came in fifth in the 100m Dash with a time of 11.73. Johnson says he’s ready for Conference, “I’ve been training hard and preparing for my upcoming events.”
Jacob Meyers ran the 800m in 2:00.09 to take second place. Nathan Wolk came in sixth with a time of 2:06.97. Both times were personal records in the event.
More personal records came in the 1600m when Cullen Krieg finished in 4:24.96 to take third, and Wolk finished 4th with a time of 4:26.55. Krieg commented on Conference, and said, “I believe I’m ready to show what I truly have.”
Ian Schram remains unbeaten in the 3200m this year with a first place finish of 9:38.65. Schram said, “The main thing that’s going well for me on the track is confidence while racing, and trusting in Coach Wright’s workouts and whatever he tells us to do.”
Schram is the favorite to win the event in Conference, but that’s not all he’s entering, “I’m very excited for Conference. I will be running the 4×800 Relay and 3200m on Thursday, and the 1600m and 800m on Friday. We have a lot of great teams and athletes at the JCAA meet so it should be a good one this year.”
Also in the 3200m, Josh Thornborrow set a personal record with a ninth place finish and a time of 10:34.65.
Kaian Roberts-Day ran the 110m Hurdles. He set a personal record with a time of 15.631 and finished fourth. Roberts-Day says he’s prepared for Conference, saying, “Just now getting back, ready to get back.”
Festus came in second in the 4x100m Relay with a time of 45.12. In the 4x400m Relay, the Tigers took fifth with a time of 3:39.76. They also took third in the 4x800m Relay with a time of 8:30.66.
Aidan Grant won the Pole Vault with a height of 13’0”. Grant had a tremendous performance and mentioned, “Going into the Pole Vault, I was very nervous considering I haven’t vaulted in four months due to a hamstring injury. It was my first competition since winter season.”
Also in the event, Austin Johnson hit a personal record with a vault of 11’0” to take sixth.
In the Javelin, Anderson took second with a toss of 160’, while Grant threw a 136’ to take seventh.
In the Girls results, Kinsey Benack finished fourth in the 100m Dash with a time of 13.55.
Presley Perry placed third in the 400m Dash, running a time of 1:04.26. Perry commented that she’s ready for Conference, and said, “I’m excited and hoping to earn some new personal records!”
In the 3200m Run, Madison Caskanett finished fourth with a time of 12:31.98.
The Tigers relay squad had a good performance placing second in the 4x100m Relay with a time of 53.30. Then they took fourth with a time of 10:52.68 in the 4x800m Relay. Benack commented, “Our relay teams are doing very well right now. We are going to keep improving our times as each week goes on. The whole team is focusing on getting ready for conference and performing our best!”
In the Pole Vault, Abby Rogers took fourth with a vault of 7’11”.
Taylor McMillin came in fourth in the Discus with at throw of 105’9”.
Good luck to the Tigers as they prepare for what will be a very fun and competitive Conference Championships, which take place both Wednesday, April 28th and Thursday, April 29th.
