David Wolman
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League Meet One For The Ages
Power Play
By David Wolman
The inaugural Pioneer League track meet is officially in the books.
And it was one for the record books.
The sun was out, the temperatures were comfortable – perhaps the best weather at an area track meet this season, considering the amount of clouds and rain we’ve had recently.
Athletes converged at Central Heights High School and will forever be engraved as the first to compete in a Pioneer League track meet.
Years from now, they can tell their friends, loved ones, children and relatives that they were one of the athletes that got to compete in that meet.
They can also tell stories and share scrapbooks of the many close battles that ensued and also the many personal records that were broken.
Just in case you missed it, here are some snapshots.
Perhaps the most exciting battle that took place, on a day where some went down to the wire, was for the boys’ team title.
Osawatomie entered the final event, the boys’ 4x400-meter relay, one point ahead of Jayhawk-Linn.
Brandon Garcia’s victory in the 3,200-meter run earned 10 key points for the Trojans, while Jayhawk-Linn didn’t garner any points in the event. Thus, the one-point margin for Osawatomie entering the 4x400 relay.
In a battle that lasted to the final event, it was only fitting that it took until the final leg to decide the title.
A close race ensued until Mitch Kerr created the separation Osawatomie needed to pull out the win, clinching the team title for the Trojans. They finished with 168 points, while Jayhawk-Linn had 165.
Jayhawk-Linn did walk away with the girls’ team title, though, finishing 59 points ahead of runner-up Anderson County.
Close battles didn’t just involve those for the team title.
Another exciting ending to a relay race occurred in the girls’ 4x100-meter relay. This time, it came down to the wire.
Jayhawk-Linn trailed during the final leg, but Taylor Dawson had her sights set on her Wellsville opponent just feet in front of her. She gave it one last burst and propelled past her counterpart down the final straightaway and across the finish first.
Dawson and Osawatomie’s Alyssa Chisam had a near photo-finish in the girls’ 200-meter dash.
Several personal records were also broken.
When the Pioneer League was formed last year, the main goal was to level out the playing field. Before, schools such as Osawatomie and Prairie View were competing in the Frontier League against schools such as Paola, Ottawa and Spring Hill.
So far, the Pioneer League has served its purpose, at least for track.
David Wolman can be reached at 755-4151 or e-mail: davidwolman@miconews.com
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And it was one for the record books.
The sun was out, the temperatures were comfortable – perhaps the best weather at an area track meet this season, considering the amount of clouds and rain we’ve had recently.
Athletes converged at Central Heights High School and will forever be engraved as the first to compete in a Pioneer League track meet.
Years from now, they can tell their friends, loved ones, children and relatives that they were one of the athletes that got to compete in that meet.
They can also tell stories and share scrapbooks of the many close battles that ensued and also the many personal records that were broken.
Just in case you missed it, here are some snapshots.
Perhaps the most exciting battle that took place, on a day where some went down to the wire, was for the boys’ team title.
Osawatomie entered the final event, the boys’ 4x400-meter relay, one point ahead of Jayhawk-Linn.
Brandon Garcia’s victory in the 3,200-meter run earned 10 key points for the Trojans, while Jayhawk-Linn didn’t garner any points in the event. Thus, the one-point margin for Osawatomie entering the 4x400 relay.
In a battle that lasted to the final event, it was only fitting that it took until the final leg to decide the title.
A close race ensued until Mitch Kerr created the separation Osawatomie needed to pull out the win, clinching the team title for the Trojans. They finished with 168 points, while Jayhawk-Linn had 165.
Jayhawk-Linn did walk away with the girls’ team title, though, finishing 59 points ahead of runner-up Anderson County.
Close battles didn’t just involve those for the team title.
Another exciting ending to a relay race occurred in the girls’ 4x100-meter relay. This time, it came down to the wire.
Jayhawk-Linn trailed during the final leg, but Taylor Dawson had her sights set on her Wellsville opponent just feet in front of her. She gave it one last burst and propelled past her counterpart down the final straightaway and across the finish first.
Dawson and Osawatomie’s Alyssa Chisam had a near photo-finish in the girls’ 200-meter dash.
Several personal records were also broken.
When the Pioneer League was formed last year, the main goal was to level out the playing field. Before, schools such as Osawatomie and Prairie View were competing in the Frontier League against schools such as Paola, Ottawa and Spring Hill.
So far, the Pioneer League has served its purpose, at least for track.
David Wolman can be reached at 755-4151 or e-mail: davidwolman@miconews.com