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Shawnee Mission North Relays

SM South 9:30.70 girls 4 x 8; Eddie McClain (Bonner Springs) 6-10; Two Tonganoxie girls over 150 in the Javelin; Biggest high school meet in the Kansas City area

5/4/07 Merlin Gish Track, Shawnee Mission North HS, Overland Park KS

by Tony Bozarth

Full Meet Results Link

Highlights:

* Melesa Johnson (Bishop Miege) wins three golds

* SM South runs 9:30.70 in deep 4 x 800

* Leavenworth wins three relays girls

* Roxie Grizzle and Ali Pistora (both Tonganoxie) over 150 in the JT

* Eddie McClain (Bonner Springs) 6-10 HJ; Kevin Logan (Lawrence) 6-8

* Jonathan Walker (Harmon, Kansas City) 14.42 110H

* Richard McCoy (Blue Valley West) 23-6.5 LJ

* Olathe East 8:03.70 4 x 800

* Redell Frazier (Harmon, Kansas City) win 48.87 400 with four under 49.25

A hot windy afternoon turned into a lovely night for racing at the newly re-furbished SM North Stadium in Overland Park. The Merlin Gish track some numerous outstanding performances, and field events were also strong as always. The meet features almost every school from the Kansas side of the Kansas City metro area, and numerous other strong squads from the eastern side of the state. Over thirty schools competed. An event-by-event report follows.

Girls Events:

100: Trolisa Williams (Bishop Miege, Shawnee Mission) closed strongly for a 12.49 victory, edging Faith Livingston (SM North 12.532) and Kendra Bradley (Leavenworth 12.55).

200: Jackie Jacobs (St. Thomas Aquinas, Overland Park) powered to the finish winning in 25.83, with Chantay Caron (Ottawa 26.15) following is second and Meredith Turner (Blue Valley West) third at 26.46.

400: In a match-up of some of the area's top 400 runners, it was 800 specialist Layne Moore (Emporia), who fought threw some tough breezes best, winning in convincing fashion in 57.21. Kayla Ubel (Blue Valley West) was second at 58.61, with Kristina Taylor (Lawrence 58.92) and Kristen Gillespie (SM South 59.23) also under 60.

800: In one of the most exciting races of the night, 1600 winner Cali George (Gardner-Edgerton) controlled the race, and appeared to move away with a strong move with 150 to go. But Olathe East's Lana Thompson, gained on George down the homestretch and just caught her before the tape, 2:19.56 to 2:19.74. Mallory Kirby (SM East 2:20.43) and Jennifer Taylor (Lawrence 2:20.95) staged their own duel for third, as twelve broke 2:30.

1600: Cali George (Gardner-Edgerton) controlled this race from the gun, leading one veteran observer to say, "She runs this like it's a half-mile." George ran a smooth 5:07.52 to win, with a hard-fought pack behind her. Christine Nelson (SM Northwest 5:19.28) pulled away for second, with Michaela Reynolds (Emporia 5:20.58), Allie Marquis (SM East 5:21.75) and Lauren Karnitz (DeSoto 5:23.22) following.

3200: Temps in the 80's and blustery winds made for tough distance running conditions on Friday afternoon, and a hot early pace made things tougher. Kara Windisch (Blue Valley West 11:31.34) pulled away late from Kelly Renfro (Lawrence 11:33.21), with early leader Deedee Cabrey (Leavenworth 11:44.27) third and the Olathe East duo of Riley Wertenberger (12:02.38) and Casey Epps (12:06.47) fourth and fifth.

100H: Melesa Johnson (Bishop Miege, Shawnee Mission) looked very impressive, blasting to a 14.79 win. Brittany Thomas (Sumner, Kansas City) ran 15.66 for second, just edging Brittany Harding (Olathe South 15.71.)

300H: Melsea Johnson (Bishop Miege, Shawnee Mission) scored a second hurdle win with a 45.12 victory. Sarah Meyers (SM West) pressed Johnson the whole way, running 45.25 in second. Katlyn Merrill (Olathe Northwest) ran 46.32 for third, edging Sara Exon (Mill Valley, Shawnee 46.89).

4 x 100: Leavenworth put on a nice display of speed, pulling away on the third leg for a 48.48 win. Olathe East ran 50.01 for second with Sumner Academy (Kansas City) third at 50.27.

4 x 200: Leavenworth put on a clinic of 200 running in this race, blasting away to a 1:40.87 win. Olathe East was a clear second at 1:46.51, while Gardner-Edgerton (1:48.31) and SM North (1:49.82) followed.

4 x 400: Leavenworth put an explanation point on their sprint relays, running clear to a 3:57.44 win. SM South was second at 4:05.43, with St. Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park) running 4:09.01, with Gardner-Edgerton 4:10.74 and Olathe Northwest 4:10.84 providing close competition

4 x 800: SM South coach Mike Naster confided that he had stacked his girls 4 x 800 for a great attempt at time tonight, and the Raiders came through for their coach. Elizabeth Dedon, Kelsey Goebel, Megan Murray and Kristen Gillespie, took the lead on the second leg from Emporia, and proceeded to power away to a meet record 9:30.70 win. St. Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park) was a distance, but very credible second at 9:38.97, with Emporia third at 9:42.55. The 4 x 800 has been a showcase event in Kansas track this season, and the deep field showed this with Leavenworth fourth (9:50.24), Blue Valley West fifth (9:51.29) and SM East sixth (9:57.03).

High Jump: Olathe East's Ashley Reid gave her coach a quick scare, missing twice at 5-0 before clearing, but then went on smoothly to clear 5-6 to win the event. A Allison Mayfield (St. Thomas Aquinas, Overland Park) won second at 5-4 on misses from Pagie Peltzer (Atchison) with Jackie Goleman (Desoto 4th), and Kristen Daschke (Blue Valley 5th) also clearing 5-4.

Pole Vault: Abby Jones (Lawrence) cleared 11-0 to win on misses from Julia Cummings (SM South). Samantha Kraft (Emporia) was third at 10-6, with Emmy Lehman (Gardner-Edgerton 4th), Christin Botteron (SM Northwest 5th) and Ashley Sakamura (Free State, Lawrence) all clearing 10-0.

Long Jump: Katlyn Merrill (Olathe Northwest) sailed 18-0.5 to win the long jump by over a foot, with high jump winner Ashley Reid (Olathe East) second at 16-10.5. Jennifer Smith (St. Thomas Aquinas, Overland Park) was third at 16-8, edging Kelly Smith (SM West 16-7.75).

Triple Jump: Melesa Johnson (Bishop Miege, Shawnee Mission) took her third gold medal of the meet, winning by over a foot at 37-11. Long jump winner Katyln Merrill (Olathe Northwest) was second at 36-10, with Kelly Smith (SM West) third at 36-5.

Shot Put: Tonganoxie sophomore Roni Grizzle added her own page to an illustrious throws tradition at Tongy. Grizzle won the shot with a throw of 42-3.25. Peoples Kearston (Ottawa) was second at 42-0.5, with Grizzle's older sister Roxi third at 37-5.25, edging Angela Topf (DeSoto 37-3.25).

Discus: Peoples Kearston (Ottawa) tossed the platter 126-9 to win, just ahead of Chey Harper (Leavenworth 124-6). Liz Minoofar (Blue Valley) was third at 115-0.5

Javelin: Always a favorite Kansas event, the javelin was again a show-stopper, as the Tonganoxie duo of Roxi Grizzle and Ali Pistora waged a great battle. Grizzle won with a toss of 154-2, edging Pistora's 152-8 toss. Lauren Busch (SM South) was a strong third at 137-6, with high jump runner-up Allison Mayfield (St. Thomas Aquinas, Overland Park) fourth at 127-5

Boys Events:

100: The season (career) long rivalry between Evan Pierson (Olathe South), Justin Woods (Mill Valley, Shawnee) and Dee Bell (Olathe East) continued in the 100, with Pierson pulling away late to win in 10.77, with Woods second 10.82 and Bell third 10.89.

200: Darius Johnson (Ottawa) powered the home straight to a 22.54 win, impressive after a night with a big 400 and relay legs. Brandon Smith (Atchison) was second at 22.99 and Nick Pierson (Gardner-Edgerton) third at 23.04

400: In one of the most electrifying races of the night, fans were on their feet as four of the state's top 400 runners entered the final straight even across the track. In the end, Redell Frazier (Harmon, Kansas City) ran 48.87 to outlean Keron Toussaint (Free State, Lawrence 48.95), with Darius Johnson (Ottawa) just a step back at 49.08 and triple jump winner Aryan Long (Olathe North) at 49.25.

800: Robin Krezinsky (SM East) took command down the homestretch, powering away from the chase pack to win in 1:58.52, with Jacob Davies (Emporia) second at 1:59.68. Patrick Cooley (Blue Valley 2:00.99) edged Adam Vorermark (Lansing 2:01.48) for third.

1600: Jimmy Ward (SM West) kicked to a 4:29.22 win over Ben Loats (Blue Valley 4:30.10) in a tactical race, with Carter Williams (Maranatha, Shawnee 4:33.49) edging Keaton Jones (SM Northwest 4:34.07) for third.

3200: In hot, windy weather, the 3200 took on a tactical look, with Bill Martin (SM West) pulling away late from the pack to a 10:04.72 win. Hunter Whitemarsh (Turner, Kansas City) was second at 10:73 and Adise Kenea (Olathe North 10:13.90) edged Matt Horn (Olathe South 10:14.51) and Jon Sanell (SM South 10:14.51) for third.

110H: Jonathan Walker (Harmon, Kansas City) blistered away from the field to a 14.42 win, with Courtney Hines (SM Northwest) second at 15.00, edging Andrew Pennington (SM East 15.08)

300H: Andrew Pennington (SM East) moved up the homestretch to win in 38.83, with Courtney Hines (SM Northwest) second at 39.23. Zachary Carson (Wyandotte, Kansas City 39.77) edged Jake Catloth (Olathe North 39.90) for third.

4 x 100: Washington, Kansas City cruised a 43.21 to win, edging rival Harmon, Kansas City (43.26) and Olathe North (43.27). Free State, Lawrence (43.31) was fourth in an exciting, close race.

4 x 200: Free State, Lawrence ran 1:28.69 for a handy win with Harmon, Kansas City (1;29.87) second. SM North (1:30.21) was third.

4 x 400: SM Northwest charged away mid-race to a 3:21.10 win to end the night's festivities. Olathe Northwest ran to second at 3:23.49, pressuring SMNW all the way. Free State, Lawrence was third at 3:28.49, edging Blue Valley 3:28.78 and SM East 3:29.06.

4 x 800: Using sub 2:00 legs from Cody Frazier and Raynard Smith, Olathe East opened up a big lead in the 4 x 800, then finished off with Ross Palermo and Ben Schmitz for a state-leading 8:03.70 win. SM West pulled away to an 8:09.08 second place finish, with SM Northwest (8:20.73) taking third from St. Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park 8:22.95).

HJ: A great high jump duel saw KU Relays champ Eddie McClain (Bonner Springs) clear 6-10 to win the event from Lawrence's Kevin Logan (6-8). Adam Chinery (Blue Valley) and Jermain Bransford (Olathe North) tied for third at 6-4, with Collin Childers (Blue Valley 5th) and Cameron Taylor (Bishop Miege, Shawnee Mission 6th) also clearing 6-4

PV: Cooper Merrill (Blue Valley North) cleared 15-0 to win the event, with Isaac Mallory (Gardner-Edgerton 14-6) and Justin Bowen (Gardner-Edgerton 14-0) second and third. Daniel Beattie (SM Northwest) cleared 14-0 in fourth.

LJ: Richard McCoy (Blue Valley West) sailed 23-6 for a clear win, with Aryan Long (Olathe North) second at 22-11. Jeremy Walker (Harmon, Kansas City) jumped 22-2 for third.

TJ: Aryan Long (Olathe North) dominated the event, winning by almost three feet with a 47-6 leap. Malcom Brown (Lawrence) was second at 44-9.5, with Richard McCoy (Blue Valley West) third at 44-5.5.

SP: Victor Butler (Leavenworth) tossed the shot 53-3.5 for a solid win, well up on Travis Tannahill (Olathe East 50-8) in second. Phil Collins (50-0.25) of Blue Valley Northwest was third.

DT: Justin Holmes (SM South) threw the plate 167-7.5 to dominate the field. Richard Flaig (Free State, Lawrence) was second at 152-2, and Josh Brown (Olathe Northwest) was third at 150-3.5

JT: In as close a throws competition as one could get, Mike Beeler (SM West) and Travis Tannahill (Olathe East) both threw 184-2, with Beeler getting the win on second best marks. Johanne Swanepool (SM South) threw 176-2 to edge Miles Ringgold (Emporia 175-3), and Andrew Wendorff (Mill Valley, Shawnee 174-4) for third.

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