The Free Press

The Hillsboro girls' and boys' track teams both placed second at the Hesston Invitational Thursday.

Marion girls placed sixth in the 12-school field while the boys placed fourth.

Led by the four-gold-medal performance of JuliAnne Chisholm, Hillsboro girls rolled up 104 points to finish 28 points behind the defending Class 3A champions from Garden Plain.

For her effort, Chisholm was named the meet's "Outstanding Female Athlete." The sophomore tied the meet record in the high jump with a leap of 5-feet, 6-inches, and broke Andrea Peachey's school record of 15.1 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles by crossing the tape in 14.88.

Chisholm also won the 300-meter hurdles (47.0) and joined Kelsie Penner, Jessica Heidel and Hannah Marsh to win the 4x400-meter relay in 4:13.85.

"JuliAnne has really taken her events to a new level," coach Dennis Boldt said.

Marsh won Hillsboro's only other gold medals by taking first in the long jump at 16-111/2 and the 200-meter dash in 26.96 seconds. Marsh also placed second in the 400-meter dash in 1:02.32.

Tina Frick claimed Hillsboro's other silver medal by following Chisholm through the tape in the 100-meter hurdles in 15.2 seconds.

HHS girls placed in 12 of the 18 available events.

"Competing against Garden Plain throughout the season really keeps our focus," said Boldt. "Team scores in an invitational are not always an indication of what happens in state competition. Finishing second to such a good team with depth as Garden Plain only makes us stronger."

Marion girls, meanwhile, got a gold medal in the 100-meter dash from Erin Carr, who crossed the finish line in 12.69 seconds. She won the Warriors' only silver medal by leaping 33-3 in the triple jump.

"She has started to establish herself as one of the top sprinters in the area," Warrior coach Grant Thierolf said of Carr. "She is not far from the school record in the 100-meter dash and has been triple-jumping very well. She is starting to get that confidence you need to be a great athlete."

Erin Richmond won a bronze medal by clearing 9-0 in pole vault. Danielle Cope placed third in the 3,200 meters in 13:05.2.

In the boys' division, Nate Holmes paced the Trojans' second-place finish with wins in the 800 meters (2:03.40) and 1,600 meters (4:40.69).

"Nate has stepped up his performance this season," Boldt said. "I see increased confidence and maturity in his races."

Sean Leihy gave the Trojans another gold in distance races by wining the 3,200 meters (10:43.34). Freshman Cody McMillen finished right behind him in 10:43.40 and took the bronze medal in the 1,600 (4:44.22).

With Josh Boese adding points for fourth place in the 800 (2:10.13), Boldt noted that the four runners are "creating quite a talented group of distance runners, which, combined with our hurdles, are becoming the backbone of the team."

David Funk placed second in the 110-meter hurdles (15.59) and Tim Funk placed fourth (16.20).

Tim Funk picked up Hillsboro's only other gold medal by clearing 6-0 in the high jump.

Meanwhile, Marion's Jeremy Vondenkamp took double gold in the hurdles, winning the 110-meter hurdles in 15.36 and the 300-meter hurdles in 41.50.

"Jeremy has really stepped it up from last year," Thierolf said. "His form is tighter and he is finishing races very well."

Also scoring well for Marion were Casey Nelson, who placed second in the pole vault (13-6), and Adam Depler who took third in two events, shot put (47-7) and discus (138-9). Ben Leppke placed third in the triple jump (39-93/4).

Coming-Hillsboro and Marion will compete Friday in the Mid-Central Activities Association league meet at Warrior Stadium.

"We are very much looking forward to the league meet at Marion," Thierolf said. "Our kids want to place well and represent the community to the best of our abilities."

Boldt has his eye on Friday, too.

"We look forward to competing in our league track and field meet that will boast 12 schools this season," he said.

All 12 teams will compete for team titles in each division, boys and girls.

Events begin at 4 p.m.