Trojans, Jayhawks Win League Titles

By David Wolman, davidwolman@miconews.com

Osawatomie’s Jameson Greenwood jumps over a hurdle during the boys’ 300-meter hurdles Thursday at the Pioneer League meet. Greenwood won the event. (Photo by David Wolman)

RICHMOND — It doesn’t get more exciting than this in track.

The battle for the boys’ team title in Thursday’s inaugural Pioneer League track meet came down to the final event: the 4x400-meter relay.

A close race ensued, and it was just that until the final leg.

That’s when Mitch Kerr took the baton for Osawatomie.

He had already won the 400-meter dash (53.4 seconds) earlier in the meet, and he looked to carry that winning edge for the final leg of the 4x400 relay.

“I figured that he was the fastest guy in the quarter (400 meters) there,” Madden said. “You put that with a little adrenaline,” and Kerr took off.

Kerr created the separation the Trojans’ 4x400 relay team (Trevor Cooley, Eli Waddle, Dustin Kueser and Kerr) needed to not only pull away and win the race with a time of 3:38.1, but secure the team title for Osawatomie over Jayhawk-Linn.

Osawatomie garnered 168 points, while Jayhawk-Linn finished with 165. It was Osawatomie’s first league title in over a decade.

“It was kind of one of those classics that went down to the end,” Madden said. “It was a healthy competition between the two schools.”

Just minutes before, the Trojans trailed Jayhawk-Linn by nine points entering the second-to-last event: the 3,200-meter run.

But Brandon Garcia’s dominating performance ensured the final showdown between the schools. He earned 10 key points for the Trojans as he won the race in 10:30.8 — winning by 11.2 seconds over Anderson County’s Asher Velvick. Jayhawk-Linn didn’t garner any points in the event.

“I knew that we had a good shot with Brandon in the 2-mile (3,200 run),” Madden said of Garcia, who also struck gold in the 1,600-meter run.

With Garcia’s victory, Osawatomie now held a one-point lead going into the 4x400 relay.

Overall, the Osawatomie boys earned gold in nine events, silver in four and bronze in three. They also placed fourth in two events and fifth in one.

“The kids rose to the challenge and did a good job,” Madden said.

Jameson Greenwood, meanwhile, didn’t initially have time to celebrate his league title in the 100-meter dash (11.1). He had to quickly turn his attention to the long jump, in which he placed second after jumping 20 feet 6.25 inches.

Greenwood then competed in a relay before rounding out his day in the 300-meter hurdles. He won the 300 hurdles with a time of 41.8.

When he had a moment to catch his breath, Greenwood recalled the final moments of the 100 dash:

“I felt the Wellsville guy on my right-hand side, but I knew that I would catch him (near the end). That’s when I get my speed.”

Greenwood has scored key points for the Trojans all season, and he did again Thursday. In individual events also, he lassoed 28 points.

“He really came through for us, particularly for a sophomore,” Madden said.

Brendan Soucie won the 800-meter run in 2:04.4. Kerr earned three league titles. The boys’ 4x800-meter relay team, which broke the school record at last month’s Wendt Invitational, added a league title to their collection.

Dylan Manchester and Andy French placed fourth in the discus and 110 hurdles, respectively. Manchester’s throw of 120-11.5 was a personal record.

Jayhawk-Linn won four individual league titles.

Steven Mann struck gold in the triple jump and long jump. Briar Snyder edged teammate Brock Johanning by 0.1 seconds to win the 110-meter hurdles.

Prairie View’s Dalton Smith cleared a personal-best height of 10 feet in the pole vault, placing second.

“It is an indication of what he is capable of if he can remain healthy and work hard in practice,” Prairie View coach James Burke said.

Peter Dokos placed fifth in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 11:30.

Haley Snow turned in dominating performances in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs. She separated herself from the competition early in the 1,600 run and finished in 5:55.3.

“Haley is not gifted with great speed, so Coach (Lori) Nelson and I emphasize her getting out quickly with a good first quarter,” Burke said. “From that point on, Haley’s great conditioning and competitiveness take over. She is very mentally tough, and her great work ethic in practice every day gives her the confidence that she can hold her pace and be in contention at the finish.”

Alisha Brown won the 300-meter hurdles in 48.9.

Prairie View finished fifth in the girls’ team standings with 71 points, and Osawatomie ended in fourth with 81.5.

Strong performances in track events allowed Jayhawk-Linn to pull away and win the girls’ title. They garnered 169 points, 59 ahead of runner-up Anderson County.

“We had a good meet,” Jayhawk-Linn coach Charlie Beckman said. “We really did.”

In perhaps the most entertaining finish on the day, Jayhawk-Linn and Wellsville were running neck-and-neck during the final leg of the girls’ 4x100-meter relay.

“We’ve got a good rivalry with Wellsville,” Beckman said. “It was a rerun of the Wellsville meet.”

To start the final leg, Taylor Dawson grabbed the baton from Jayhawk-Linn teammate Cassie Rockers. Wellsville was slightly ahead at the time, and the lead continued into the final straightaway.

That’s when Dawson made her move.

“I really wanted to beat her,” Dawson said. “So I was just trying to focus on my form.”

Dawson pulled ahead and crossed the finish line first, winning by one-tenth of a second.

The Jayhawks also struck gold in the girls’ 4x400- and 4x800-meter relays, and Dawson in the long jump.

Meriel Long won the 400-meter dash. Brogan Hoover dominated in the 800-meter run, turning in a winning time of 2:34.9.

Osawatomie’s Alyssa Chisam won league titles in the 100- and 200-meter dashes. Her time of 26.8 in the 200 dash was a personal best.

Other Trojans also set personal records: Anna Buecker (8-0) and Sarah Johnston (7-6) in the pole vault, and Amanda Troutman (32-3) in the shot put. She also placed fourth in the discus (99-5).

“I felt good about the way we performed,” Madden said. “I thought we competed courageously.”

Other notable results:

GIRLS

Shot put: 5. Chelsea Beckman, Jayhawk-Linn, 31-6. 6. Leah Wood, Jayhawk-Linn, 31-0. 7. Amanda Hatfield, Prairie View, 31-0.

Javelin: 3. Amory Miller, Jayhawk-Linn, 98-0. 5. Elisha Jones, Jayhawk-Linn, 94-2. 6. Rosanna Spencer, Prairie View, 90-7. 8. Kortney Bailey, Osawatomie, 87-4. 9. Haley Madden, Osawatomie, 82-0.

Discus: 3. Beckman, 100-4. 6. Amanda Hatfield, 86-1.

Long jump: 6. Keli Rauber, 13-9.75.

Triple jump: 3. Rockers, 32-7. 4. Kaylee Brownback, Jayhawk-Linn, 29-1.5.

High jump: 4. Lauren Drake, 4-6. 5. Mallory Allcorn, 4-6.

Pole vault: 3. Madison Holland, Prairie View, 7-6. 5. Shelby Krull, Jayhawk-Linn, 7-0. 6. Channell Gulota, Prairie View, 7-0. 7. Mackenzie Nickell, 7-0.

100 hurdles: 1. Morgan Eastwood, Jayhawk-Linn, 15.7. 3. Caley Penn, Prairie View, 16.8. 4. Amory Miller, Jayhawk-Linn, 17.6.

100 dash: 2. Emilly Ritch, Osawatomie, 13.3.

1,600-meter run: 3. Stephanie Mayhugh, Jayhawk-Linn, 6:01.3. 4. Sylvia Grant, Jayhawk-Linn, 6:08.9. 5. Madison Beckman, Jayhawk-Linn, 6:10.3.

400-meter dash: 2. Krull, 1:08.2. 3. Rachel Fisher, Osawatomie, 1:09.1.

800-meter run: 4. Kylee Needham, Osawatomie, 2:47.3.

BOYS

Discus: 5. Cody Hall, Jayhawk-Linn, 119-9.5. 7. Andrea Campo, Osawatomie, 111-3.

Triple jump: 3. Alec Walters, 38-8.

High jump: 2. Soucie, 6-2. 3. Dan Purinton, 5-10.

100-meter dash: 3. Wil Sisson, Jayhawk-Linn, 11.5. 4. Dylan Thyer, 11.7.

400-meter dash: 3. Terry Baker, Jayhawk-Linn, 56.0. 8. Stetson Jackson, 58.6. 9. Daniel Dorsett, 1:01.4.

300-meter hurdles: 4. Chad Thomas, 46.6.