Staff writer
Six Hillsboro athletes qualified for state competition Friday during a 2A regional meet in Hillsboro, with three qualifying for more than one event.
Despite a lightning delay that lasted one hour, coach Dennis Boldt said the athletes did a good job of ignoring the conditions and focused on the task at hand.
Emily Sechrist again controlled the long distance races, winning the 1,600 and 3,200-meter races, as well as a third-place finish in the 800.
“Emily again showed why she is one of the premier distance runners in the state,” Boldt said.
Boldt said the state schedule should benefit Emily, because her three races will be spread over Friday and Saturday, the 3,200 being the first and only race Friday evening.
Grant Knoll also qualified in the 1,600 and 3,200, finishing third in both.
Boldt said Avery Franz was excited to jump in the rain, and it showed as he posted the second longest triple jump, at 41 feet, 7¾ inches. He also placed second in the 400-meter dash, in 53.37 seconds.
Tara Proffitt also qualified in the 400, finishing her final 30 meters strong enough for a fourth-place finish.
In shot put, Taylor Vogt solidified her placement early with a personal record 36-1¾ inch throw. She placed second.
Marah Franz continued to place well in pole vault, winning the event with a 9-6 vault.
“Marah has quietly been winning medals throughout the season in pole vault,” Boldt said.
Qualifying events for the state meet begin Friday in Cessna Stadium at Wichita State University.
Schedule
Girls
Marah Franz: Pole vault, 3 p.m. Friday.
Proffitt: 400-meter dash, preliminaries at 3:35 p.m. Friday and finals at 3:45 p.m. Saturday.
Sechrist: 3,200-meter run, 7:20 p.m. Friday; 1,600-meter run, 1:20 p.m. Saturday; and 800-meter run, 5:05 p.m. Saturday.
Vogt: Shot put, 3 p.m. Friday.
Boys
Avery Franz: Triple jump, 1:15 p.m. Saturday; 400-meter dash, preliminaries at 3:55 p.m. Friday and finals at 4:05 p.m. Saturday.
Knoll: 3,200-meter run, 7:20 p.m. Friday; 1,600-meter run, 2:05 p.m.