Heart of America League Championships Show Off Some of the State's Best Talent
Friday night in Marion, the Heart of American League once again showed why it is considered one of the best small school leagues in the state. State leaders took the stage both on the track and in the field. In the boy's race, Moundridge edged out Berean Academy by just three points, 96-93. On the girl's side, Inman put some distance between themselves and runner-up Berean Academy, taking home the title by a score of 123-108.
HOA Results I HOA Photos
The boy's results were highlighted by Inman junior Tanner Heckel, who took home four league championships. Heckel was the winner in the 100m (11.39), long jump (22'08.25"), triple jump (44'09"), and javelin (165'08"). Moundridge was once again led by their sprinters. Standout sophomore Kaden Elmore was first in the 200m (23.23) and second in the 100m (11.50), while senior Logan Churchill ran a Class 2A state-leading time of 50.74 in the 400m. Their sprint relay teams also impressed on Friday. Already the state leader in the 4x100m, Moundridge ran an impressive 43.52 while also putting in a state-leading time of 3:26.47 in the 4x400m.
Distance events were once again led by defending state champion Andrew Harder of Berean Academy. Harder, last May's winner of the 1600m and 3200m, again won both at the HOA league meet. With times of 4:35.53 and 10:09.07, Harder once again claims a spot as one of the favorites in both events at the State meet. Berean's 4x800m relay team also dominated, coming in with a 2A leading time of 8:25.37. The 800m champion was Hutch Trinity's Jonah Godina, who came in with the second-fastest time in 2A.
Heckel wasn't the only competitor to impress in the field. Ell-Saline sophomore Brogan Rowley continued his dominant spring in the high jump with a winning jump of 6'6", beating out Hutch Trinity freshman Isaac Hammersmith (PR of 6'2"). Chance Shults of Marion cleared 13'0" in the pole vault, giving him the third-best jump in all of 2A.
The highlight of the night on the girl's side came from Sterling junior Faith Ekart who ran a blazing time of 2:16.30 in the 800m. Ekart currently has the #2 time in Class 2A and the #4 time in all classes. Also for Sterling, 2A leader Julia Kilgore continued her fantastic freshman campaign by winning the 400m, while also adding the league title in the 200m. Kilgore is the current 2A leader in the 400m.
Inman's Madilyn Heflin, one of the top hurdlers in 2A, took home the double on Friday night, winning both the 100m hurdles (15.59) and the 300m hurdles (47.69). Inman also picked up a victory in the 4x400m relay as well as the long jump (Fr. Suttyn Harris) and the discus (Jr. Chloe Schmidt). The Berean Academy girls tried to keep in close, bringing home league champions in the 4x800m relay, pole vault (Tayana Nord - 9'06"), and shot put (Tayton Smith - 34'5.25").