SHS girls repeat as MOAC champs
By CHUCK RIDENOUR Daily Globe Sports Editor
MARION — Junior Kayla Gonzales seared the competition in the distance races and helped Shelby successfully defend its girls track and field crown in the Mid Ohio Athletic Conference.
Heat — Gonzales’ nemesis last year at the state — was present on a hot, sunny Thursday afternoon at Harding Stadium but that did not slow the red and gray’s top long distance runner as she repeated as the champ in her specialties.
The Lady Whippet standout used an impressive kick on the final lap of the 1,600 to win with a time of 5:12.87 to upend Ontario’s Ellie Maurer over the final 150 meters.
Gonzales finished her day with a 11.54.67 to easily win the 3,200. On the first day of competition Tuesday, she anchored the winning 4 x 800-meter relay. She teamed up with Reyna Hoffman, Channon Cundiff and Abby Vogt with a victorious time of 9:44.32.
“Kayla had an incredible MOAC meet. She ran a lifetime best in the 1,600 and was able to make it look easy to pull off double wins in the 1,600 and 3,200 in the heat. I think the best thing for Kayla to take away from the league meet is she can run well in the heat where last year it was her nemesis at the state meet,” said SHS coach Patience Lewis.
Shelby, which totaled 134.5 and climbed to the top after sitting in fifth place the first day, only won four events. Gonzales had a part in three of them while Mary Wilkins, Ava Bowman, Hoffman and C. Cundiff prevailed in the 4 x 400meter relay with 4:15.69. Ontario was a distant second with 92 and Marion Harding was third with 81.5.
“We only won four events in the league — 4 x 8, 4 x 4, 1,600 and 3,200. The girls worked together for the championship. It wasn’t all about getting the ‘best mark’ for the season, but placing, scoring points and competing. Our team has a lot of youth and good competitors,” said Lewis as the team realized their goal of winning the MOAC.
Runner-up finishes for Shelby included Hoffman in the 800 as well as the 4 x 1 and 4 x 2 relays.
As for the boys, Marion Harding used its advantage in the sprints to deny Shelby a sweep.
The President posted 117 points on the final day of competition to repeat as MOAC champs with 153 points. The Whippets were the runner-up with 140.
“We had a really strong day today and just came up a little short. You have to give Harding credit they scored in more events than we did,” said SHS boys coach Chris Zuercher.
Garrett Baker was a double winner for Shelby as he clocked in at 11.21 while taking the 100-meter dash. His other first came on the opening day of action with a winning height of 14-10 in the pole vault that was a school and conference record.
“Garrett had another great day with an amazing 100 and 400. He can be put into so many events,” said Zuercher.
Baker was second in the 400 with 51.24.
Boosting the Whippets with wins were Luke Dininger in the 1,600 with 4:26.51 and Huck Finnegan in the 3,200 with 9:56.90. Marshall Moore was second in the 800, Mason Hendrickson was second in the 3,200 and Finnegan third in the 1,600.
“Luke winning what may have been the most exciting race in the 1,600 while Huck and Mason took care of business in the 3,200 and Marshall running strong in the 800,” said Zuercher. The top three finishers in the 1,600 were separated by .19 of a second.
The foursome of Finnegan, Hendrickson, Dininger, Moore won the 4 x 800-meter relay
Tuesday with 8:07.56.
Connor Henkel was a champion for SHS in the long jump with a leap of 21-7.
Xander Wilkins was second for the red and gray in the discus.
Thursday and Saturday the Whippets will participate in the Division II District at Ontario.