Regional coming to Marion

By NICHOLAS KIMBALL
and DELBERT PETERS

Staff writers

Top athletes from 16 schools, including Marion and Hillsboro, will compete Thursday in a Class 2A regional track and field meet at Marion.

Marion and Hillsboro are among the sixteen competing.

Marion

The Warriors competed in their last regular meet of the season last Thursday at the Heart of America League meet in Sterling.

“We had a solid day at a very tough HOA league meet,” coach Grant Thierolf said. “We were able to crown one league champion with Luke Wessel defending his championship in the 800.”

Wessel also placed fifth in the 1600-meter run.

Jackson Howard picked up silver with a second place finish in discus. Wyatt Soyez finished third in the 200.

The boys 400 relay team of Soyez, Wessel, Jesse Snyder, and Tripp Peterson also placed second.

On the girls’ side, Dylan Kraus broke a 33-year-old school record in the 800 and 400, winning the 800 with a time of 2:25.18 and placing second in the 400 with a time of 57.94.

Kenna Wesner won in the triple jump.

Girls relay teams placed second and third.

Hillsboro

Hillsboro’s girls finished fourth last Thursday at a Central Kansas League meet.

Addison Jost won in the 800. Riley Richert placed second in the 1600. Quinlyn Funk came in third for the 3200, and Emily Gilkey came in third in high jump.

On the boy’s side, Anders Weisbeck placed third in discus, and Seth Driggers placed fourth in the 100.

“We are bringing a lot of talent to the Class 2A regional,” coach Demetrius Cox said. “It’s been a strong season, with many athletes posting personal bests, so I expect some great performances across the board.”

Others to look out for are Aaron Hein, Jesiah Gooch, Preston D’Albini, Peter Farha, and Ira Davies on the boys side and Addison Jost, Abbi Williams, and Jaidyn Frantz on the girls side.

Centre

Kaitlynn Bina closed out her regular-season career by winning the 1600 and the 3200 during a Wheat State League meet Thursday in Herington.

Olivia Carlson placed third in the 100 hurdles and fourth in javelin. Jaycee Stika placed fourth in the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles. Julian Resser placed fifth in the 200.

“We had nine personal records at the league meet and competed very well,” coach Alan Stahlecker said.

Centre will be traveling to a Class 1A regional Thursday at Hoyt-Royal Valley where Bina will be bidding for her third straight appearance at the state track meet.

“She plans to focus on the 3200 but may well run the 1600 as well,” Stahlecker said. “Our leading scorer, Olivia Carlson, is unlikely to compete at regionals as state dive will take place in Topeka on Thursday afternoon.

“Freshman Jaycee Stika and sophomore Julian Resser will compete at regionals for the first time, and sophomore Micah Carlson will compete in the 400 for the second time and in the 200 for the first time.”

Goessel

The Goessel girls dominated the Wheat State League meet with multiple winners. Delaney Duerksen led the team with 30.50 points, winning the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles and placing second in triple jump.

Aimee Funk won gold in the 100. Logan Bryant came in first in the 400, and Brooklyn Wuest scored a victory in long jump.

The Bluebirds finished ahead of second-place Little River by 49 points.

On the boys side, Eli Gaeddert won the 1600 and 3200. Exchange student Samuel Zeni placed second in long jump, and the team as a whole finished fourth out of 10.

Goessel will move on to a 1A regional Thursday at Iola. Top four finishers will qualify to compete at state in Wichita.

Peabody-Burns

Peabody-Burns will be taking only one athlete, Adyson Winter, who competes in javenile, to its 1A regional in Iola.