The Hillsboro Girls Track and Field team took home the District Championship for the first time ever on Saturday May 15th after an incredible performance.
“Saturday was a pretty amazing day,” said Head Coach Dina Holland. “The girls knew all week that they had a chance to make history, and they laid it all on the line when it came time to do so. For a sport that is different than your average team sport, these girls have a team concept beyond their years. They rallied their teammates and supported each other to make that Championship happen. I have had some amazing teams in the past, with amazing athletes, and this District Championship is for all of those girls as well.”
Maya Wright, as she has done all season, took 1st place in both the 100m and 300m Hurdles convincingly, with times of 15.73s and 48.94s. She also earned 2nd place in the High Jump, clearing 1.47m, and was part of the 2nd place winning 4x400m team with Reese Buettner, Sidney Buettner and Kayla VanHorn. VanHorn was right behind Wright in the 100m Hurdles, finishing in 17.58s, and finished the 300m Hurdles in 51.47s which was good enough for 3rd place.
“I was really proud of my whole team,” said Wright. “Our goal was to have everyone get some amount of points in every event and we did that pretty well. The entire meet I was crunching numbers figuring out who needed to do what for us to win and I am so glad we pulled through.”
Lauren Nichols took 1st in the 400 Meter Dash (1:01.30), 2nd in the 100 Meter Dash (13.26) and scored vital points for the Hawks in the 200, missing qualifying by just .05.
Evie Roland earned the top spot in the Javelin with a throw of 34.53m, and commented on the jump in competition coming later this week. “I’m proud of how I finished today, but it will be a lot tougher competition next weekend so I’ll have to work hard this week to try and earn a spot to state,” said Roland
Hailey Genge and Lauren Lalk took 1st and 2nd in the Shot Put with Genge’s 10.37m and Laulk’s personal best 10.28m. Genge also took 3rd place in Discus with 28.92m.
Cassidy Herget came out on top in the High Jump, clearing 1.57m, and Freshman Krista Miller took 3rd place in the Triple Jump, clearing 10.48m, and qualified for Sectionals with a 4th place finish in the Long Jump with 4.46m.
“I was really looking forward to the High Jump but I was super nervous,” said Herget. “With another new personal best and placing first in the District Tournament, I’m really looking forward to Sectionals and working hard until I can have a spot at State. I am so proud of how far we have come as a team.”
Freshman Bella Uzzle took 4th place and qualified for Sectionals in the 100m and led off her 4x100m team of the Buettners and Miller who took 4th in that event as well.
“Every point we scored, these girls earned,” said Holland “Brianna Langrehr and Michelle Jones helped us in the 3200 and then had to turn around and run the 4×8 with Anna Crosby and Riley Kruse. Anna ran her best time in the 800 to score us three. Savannah Schuepbach finished her career to score us two important points in the pole vault. The Buettner duo ran in each relay, and with Payton Bingman, got 5th in the 4×200. It was truly a fantastic day for Hillsboro Girls Track and Field!”
Hillsboro’s success was not only limited to the girls’ first District Championship, as the boys team also won their District competition as well. The Hawks will travel to Park Hills Central this Saturday, May 22nd for Sectionals.
