Grant Union track, field stars face talented competitors
Published 5:00 pm Tuesday, April 20, 2010
- <I>Contributed photo</I><BR>Mary Roy, a Grant Union High School freshman, came away from the Meet of Champions track meet with four medals. She placed well in the triple jump, 400-meter run, and both the 4x100 and 4x400 relays.
JOHN DAY – They are talented athletes, but they were in a big field.
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Grant Union High School track and field team members competed in the Meet of Champions Saturday, April 17 at Willamette University in Salem, where they were among 17 other 3A schools, plus 20 4A-sized ones.
While they often rank at the top of their events, the Prospectors finished farther down the large list of results in this meet.
However, coach Sonna Smith was happy with how the team fared.
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For the girls, freshman Mary Roy garnered four medals at the competition. She placed fourth in the triple jump, eighth in the 400 meters, and was a member of both relay teams.
The 4×400 relay team, made up of Roy and seniors Brianna Murphy-Johnston, Karina Hoffman and Stephanie Vargas, placed sixth. Smith said the foursome bettered its time by over 10 seconds, recording a 4:17.7 to put them into the No. 3 spot for state 3A.
The 4×100 relay team – Roy, Murphy-Johnston, Vargas and Melissa Walker – placed eighth. The girls set a personal best at the meet of 53:15. They are now second in the state for 3A schools.
“For a freshman, Mary is at the top of most of her events and stays in the top five. Not only does she have physical talent, but mental toughness to be able to compete against the older kids,” said Smith.
Among other Grant Union competitors, Hoffman placed 10th in the long jump, 14th in the triple jump, and 18th in the 300-meter hurdles. Sophomore Melissa McCloskey placed 14th in the discus, and Walker, 12th in the triple jump. Murphy-Johnston was 10th in the 400 meters, and 16th in the 200 meters. Senior Kiaya Wilson was 23rd in the 400 meters.
For the boys, junior Brent Labhart was sixth in the 1,500 meters; 17th in the 800 meters.
The 4×100 relay team of senior Jake Combs, junior Labhart, sophomore Nick Wilson and senior Connor Smith took eighth in the event.
Junior Jake Waldner was 16th in the 300-meter hurdles, and 21st in the 110 meter hurdles. Junior Jon Roy was 22nd in the 400-meters.
In the field, senior Ethan Kowing placed 12th in the shot put and ninth in the javelin.
Three triple jumpers stood out at the competition. Wilson was fifth, Waldner was eighth, and Combs, 15th.
“They did pretty good,” said coach Smith. “We had some injuries we hope will be taken care of before district (May 15 in Boardman). We want to get everybody healthy, and hope their times will continue to improve.”
The team traveled to Vale Tuesday, April 20, past presstime. The Pros will compete Saturday, April 24, at the Heinz Invitational in Ontario.