Hillsboro High School boys’ track and field team proved it belonged with the area’s best, taking second place Friday at the Conrad Nightingale meet at Halstead.

The Trojans earned four, first-place medals including two from sprinter Ishmael Morris, one from fellow sprinter Nathan Vogel, and another from the 4x100-meter relay team.

Morris showed his blazing speed by defeating everyone in the 100- and 200-meter dashes. He took third in the 400m dash.

Vogel wasn’t too shabby either, winning the 400 and, along with Morris, Matt Klenda, and Brandon McMillen, the 4x100.

The Trojans were second out of 14 schools, finishing just eight points behind champion Wichita Independent and 13 points ahead of third-place Marion.

The girls struggled to finish 11th, but had strong efforts from Dakota Kaufman and Tiffany Rooker.

The duo earned all of the Lady Trojan’s individual points.

Kaufman was second in the triple and long jumps and sixth in javelin, while the senior Rooker was fifth in the 400 and sixth in pole vault.

The two teamed-up with Bethany Hawkinson and Shelby Koons to place fourth in the 4x100.

Clara Ens, Brenna Blackketter, Heidi Schroeder, and Callie Serene earned points with a sixth-place finish in the 4x800.

After a successful day in Halstead, the Trojans return home Friday for the annual James Thomas Invitational.

It only will be a semi-home meet because the meet will be at Bethel College while Hillsboro’s track is under construction.

Softball

A split of three doubleheaders this past week gives the Hillsboro softball team an 8-4 record on the season.

Freshman Franny Gottsch took a win and a loss in the Lyons games, Courtney Weber won a game against Hesston and Collegiate during the week, to move her record to 5-0 on the season.

Gottsch dropped games to Collegiate and Hesston, and is now 4-3 on the year.

The Lady Trojans connected on five extra base hits in the Collegiate series and six against Lyons including a home run from Taylor Nikkel.

The young squad, comprised mostly of freshmen, has continued to hang with its older league opponents.

The scores of the six games were as follows: Hillsboro 10-8, Lyons 9-6; Hillsboro 9-4, Collegiate 8-10; Hillsboro 5-0, Hesston 2-2.