Athletes gear up for district track meet

By Bill Knust

Winnetonka High boys track coach Ken Peek is taking the route of efficiency this week. With the Class 4 District 8 track meet on Saturday, May 10, at Blue Springs High, Peek chose to enter only the athletes he thought had a solid chance to advance to sectionals.

He will be taking a 1,600-meter relay team, 400 relay team, pole vaulter Duggan Grant, 400 and 200 runner Andy Helmick, discus thrower Jon Cline and 100 runner Carvel Claggett.

“We want to limit the number of kids at practice this week so we can have a good mental week of preparation,” Peek said.

With the weather being inconsistent this spring, Peek said it has really messed with the Griffins.

“Well, it has been frustrating because it is affecting our training schedules,” Peek said. “We have had more indoor practices this year than I can remember in the last two or three years combined. We haven’t been able to get a lot of consistent work.”

The weather has taken its toll on some team members more than others.

“I think it has hurt in the field events more than the running ones,” Peek said. “It has just been frustrating for us and the kids, because they are primed to perform well, and we go to meets where they battle the elements more than the competition. We have had two meets where we have had good weather.”

Still, Peek is confident this weekend. The district underwent a change when Lee’s Summit West moved out of the district and Blue Springs moved in. Other than that, all the faces will be familiar.

“I think we are ready to post some good times and get as many kids to sectionals as we can,” Peek said. “I think we are peeking at the right time.”

In addition to the pole vault, Grant will also be racing on the 400 and 1,600 relay teams. Peek thinks both teams will surprise at the district meet. He knows both of them should be right in the mix.

Panthers hoping to carry solid conference meet

into districts

Having Raytown South in your conference is no fun, but competing against them before the Class 4 District 8 meet could have its benefits.

As one of the strongest teams in the state, the Cardinals give anyone a good litmus test of where they stand. Park Hill South found out Thursday, May 1, at the Suburban Conference Middle Six meet.

“We were pretty pleased with our conference effort,” said Park Hill South coach Clay Lenhert. “We were good enough to take second as a team. That is where we were hoping we would be. Raytown South is awful good.

“I didn’t think we had too many outstanding performances individually. Conference is an important meet, but it is not a state qualifier. We are trying to put some things together and get ready for this week.”

Lenhert thinks he has his team right where it needs to be.

“I am pretty confident,” Lenhert said. “The kids are doing well. The last few meets we have been in, we have had good performances. We have a couple more things we need to do in practice this week to get ready, but we like our chances at getting some kids through to the sectional meet.”

The Panthers’ 1,600 relay team has been one of the strongest in Kansas City this spring. Lenhert has shuffled the lineup a lot to trying to find his top four runners. He still is not sure if he is ready to run them together at districts.

“We know who the top four should be, but I am not sure we are ready to put them together yet,” Lenhert said. “It is not for any other reasons than my own personal reasons — team chemistry, attitudes and rewarding kids for doing what they have been supposed to be doing the entire year. I want to let some kids that haven’t know it is still a team sport.”

Sports writer Bill Knust can be reached at 389-6605 or billknust@npgco.com.