SHS track loads up records, Regional berths, at District meet
Shelby boys and girls track brought home 8 district champions and 23 regional qualifiers from the Division 2 Ontario District competition held Thursday and Saturday at Ontario High School.
Whippets winning district titles included Madison Henkel in the long jump (16-9.25), the boys 4x800 (Marshall Moore, Indy Mayer, Luke Dinninger, Luke Lesseuer at 8:10.56), Huck Finnegan in the 3200 (9:48.61), Kayla Gonzales in the 3200 (11:09.3), Marshall Moore in the 800 (1:59.76), Ava Bowman in the 100 (12.54) and 200 (26.2) and the girls 4x100 (50.27).
Bowman led the Whippets, winning her two sprint races, along with the anchoring the first place 4x100 relay team. Bowman teamed with Alainah Carmel, Jaleeza Zehner and Madison Henkel to capture the relay title.
Bowman was happy with her performances in districts.
“I loved having the opportunity to compete at districts with some great area athletes, and being able to win both the 100 and 200 individually was just a reflection of all of the training in the off season and indoor season in order for me to be able to compete at a high level in the post season. I have been especially working on my block starts and drive phase recently in order to put together all of the pieces and to be able to compete with some very fast girls in the upcoming week. I am excited to be able to move on individually in those events.”
Bowman was equally excited to win districts with her teammates on the 4x100.
“Winning the 4x1 at the district level was also very exciting for my teammates and I, and it definitely gives us more confidence as we move farther along in our season. I love anchoring the relays because I get to bring it home for our team and finish off the race. I am very proud to compete alongside my teammates in those races, and I am excited to see how far we can go with the rest of our season.”
Kayla Gonzales set a new meet record and PR in the 3200 with her time. The boys 4x800 also set a new meet record with their time, and not to be outdone, senior, Huck Finnegan set a new meet mark in the 3200.
Gonzales was pleased with her time in the 3200, but is still hoping to beat the school record and advance to state competition.
“I was very happy to get a PR at districts in the 3200. I have been trying to break the school record in that event all year so it definitely got me a lot closer.”
The school record sits at 11:02.
“I feel really good about how districts went,” added Gonzales. Our 4x8 looked really strong and we are hoping to cut back a little bit more time so we can advance to state next week! I am hoping to make it out in the mile and two mile at regionals. There will be a lot of really good competition next week to push everyone hopefully to get some good PRS.”
Also Advancing to regional competition on the boys’ side were: 100 meters Issaiah Ramsey 4th; 800 meters, Luke Lesseuer 4th; 1600 meters, Luke Dinninger 3rd; 3200 meters Indy Mayer 2nd; 4x100 meter 4th; High Jump, Casey Lantz 2nd; Long jump Ramsey 4th; Discus Graham Yeager 3rd, Ferron Pena 4th
Advancing on girls’ side were: 800 meter Channon Cundiff 4th; 1600 meter Gonzales 2nd; 300 meter hurdles, Carmel 4th; 4x200 meter second; 4x 800 meter third
Shelby’s boys Chris Zuercher was pleased to advance boys in 9 events.
“When we get to the tournament part of the season it is all about getting as many events to the next level. We were very happy to get 9 events to Regional and two district records even though we broke our own records in 4x8 and 3200.”
Yeager and Pena have come on strong as the season has progressed in the throwing events. Yeagar set a new discus PR advancing to regionals with a throw of 151-01.00.
“I was very impressed with our discus guys. To advance two shows how Peña and Yeager have really blossomed as throwers,” added Zuercher.
Issaiah Ramsey qualified in three events.
“I can’t say enough about Ramsey. Getting out in three events but for him to finish strong in the 4x1 and while they finished 5th in the race a disqualification bumped us up to a qualifying spot and Ramsey never gave up,” Zuercher said.
The distance events have been a strong group for the Whippets in the past, and this year is no different.
“What can you say about the distance guys? They advanced in all events and won the 4x8, 800 and 3200 and double placed in 800 and 3200. We can get a lot of events to state and hopefully get all the distance events there and win a few events at regional.”