Justin Heidebrecht and Nathan Vogel coast a few strides beyond the finish of the 4x800 relay at the Conrad Nightingale Invitational in Halstead Friday. Heidebrecht edged Vogel at the line, but the HHS boys outpaced all comers in six events to claim the team title.

Fine running is often described as poetry in motion, and both Marion High School track teams ended up in the middle of the sonnet at Halstead Friday.

Led by Julia Zeiner, the girls scored 46 points, finishing just behind Remington (fourth, 491⁄2) and Conway Springs (fifth, 49) but just ahead of Hoisington (seventh, 41) among the 14 present teams.

Camille Christensen finds a way through the lead pack in the first lap of the 3,200. She placed fourth in 13:11.57.

Zeiner won the long jump with a mark of 17 feet, 31⁄2 inches, and anchored the first-place 4x400 (52.10). She also placed second in pole vault (8-6) and second in the 400 (1:02.98).

“(She) had a very nice day with two firsts and two seconds,” coach Grant Thierolf said. “We will try to fit her into the right events for league and regionals.”

The boys placed seventh with 421⁄2 points.

“We kind of had an average day,” Thierolf said.

“We were very pleased with Justin Heidebrecht and the races that he ran.”

Heidebrecht placed second in the 800 (2:05.90) and overhauled Hillsboro closer Nathan Vogel down the stretch to give his teammates—Adam Regnier, Charlie Holub and Ryan Jones—each a share of first place in the 4x800 (8:38.20).

“Heidebrecht has his sights set on a school record and will do everything he can to get it,” Thierolf said.

Thierolf also noted Jones’s performance in the 1,600 (5:00.38). He placed second.

“Ryan will continue to get better as he gets stronger,” Thierolf said.

Meanwhile, the team’s throwers took a few steps in the right direction, and Thierolf said they performed well Friday.

“Nick (Klenda) and Parker (Ash) both threw the shot well, and Sheldon (Boone) and Mitchell (Leppke) both set personal records with throws in the javelin,” he said.

Ash and Klenda recorded nearly identical distances at 43-51⁄4 and 43-5, respectively, in the shot put.

Boone’s javelin traveled 156-10 in the air and landed him fourth place in the event. Leppke upped his personal best to 144-5.

“Things are starting to come together for our throwers,” Thierolf said.

Coming—Marion was scheduled to participate in the Smoky Valley Invitational and the Central Kansas Track League meet at Moundridge Tuesday.

The Warriors next scheduled meet is the Hillsboro Invitational, to be held Friday at the Bethel College facility in North Newton.

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