MHS Track and Field is approaching its final tournaments before the post season with momentum. Over the past few weeks, the boys and girls teams have competed in multiple invitational tournaments.
In early April, they participated in the Olathe North invitational. The tournament invited some of the top competition from the KC area. The boys placed second with 88.5 points with notable first place finishes from senior Vincent Malone (high jump) and junior Crayton Rauch (long jump). The girls finished in sixth place with 55 points behind multiple second place finishes from juniors Hanna Pellant and Harli Omli.
“The season has got off to a good start,” Rauch said. “Lots of PR’s already and our team has been successful.”
Teams then competed at the home invitational, with both the boys and girls placing first with 151 points and 133.5 points respectively. The girls 4×800 relay team consisting of sophomore Talia Tindall, juniors Marlena Lewison and Sophia Salmans, and senior Haley Henningston placed first. Sophomore Jorryn Hall placed first in shot put and many others placed in the top 3.
On the boys side, numerous relays and events placed first, including Rauch in the 200m and 400m and senior Lucas Holdren in the 3200m.
Most recently, select members of the team competed at the KU Relays, which invite some of the best high school athletes in the midwest. From Manhattan High, 12 athletes competed. Malone placed fourth in high jump, and Pellant placed fourth in the 100m.
As the season draws to a close, the focus for the team will be peaking at the right time.
“The goal is to keep getting better,” Rauch said. “[We want to] peak at State and be in a spot to compete for a State championship personally and as a team.”
