Hoisington Boys, TMP Girls, Take Home Victories at the Russell Invitational
-Joe Godina
With athletes battling strong winds all day, the boy's team race came down to the final event. Down four points entering the 4x400m relay, Hoisington posted a second-place finish to edge Russell 130-126. Hutchinson Trinity finished third in the team standings with 117 points. Hoisington racked up points in both the 110m and 300m hurdles, with Jr. Josiah Ball taking the gold in each event. They also piled up points in the Shot Put where they finished with three of the top five finishers and also finished 1-2 in the discus.
The Russell boys were led by Sr. Jace Peerman who took home gold in all three jumps. They also dominated the podium in the sprints. Sr. Jacob Ney won the 100m (where Russell also finished 2nd and 4th) and 400m. In between those distances, Jr. Peyton Pfannenstiel took home gold in the 200m.
Their middle-distance and distance runners led Hutchinson Trinity. Sr. Jonah Godina swept all four events he entered, winning the 800m, 1600m, and 3200m while teaming up with teammates to win the 4x800m. Hutchinson Trinity placed three in the top five of the 800m, four of the top six in the 1600m, and placed 1-3 in the 3200m. Trinity also got a second-place high jump finish and a fourth-place long jump finish from Sr. Blake Hammeke.
On the girl's side, Thomas Moore Prep-Marion dominated the field with 172 points. Ellsworth finished second with 118 and Hoisington was third with 89. TMP's dominance came from all over the track. They had winners in the 1600m and 3200m (Sr. Michaela Dickman), the 100m hurdles (So. Shalee Gottschalk), the 4x100m relay, the 4x800m relay, high jump (So. Tessa Wentling), and placed 5 in the top 6 in the triple jump (including the winner, So. Macara Rohr).
Ellsworth brought home golds in the 100m, high jump, javelin, and shot put. Wins in the 800m, 300m hurdles and the 4x400m relay helped propel Hoisington to a third-place finish on the day.