Trojan girls capture second straight MCAA title

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN DON RATZLAFF
The Hillsboro High School girls ran away with the Mid-Central Activities Association title Friday in Marion on the legs of its two sophomore standouts, JuliAnne Chisholm and Hannah Marsh.

Chisholm won all three of her individual events and joined with Kelsey Penner, Tina Frick and Jessica Heidel to win the 4×400-meter relay.

Marsh, meanwhile, won three individual events and came within a second of winning a fourth one.

By the time the final event was completed, the Trojans had amassed 131 points to give them a 42-point margin over second-place Smoky Valley.

It was the second consecutive MCAA title for the HHS girls.

Rounding out the 12-team field were Wichita Collegiate (58), Hesston (541/3), Lyons (43), Halstead (34), Haven (331/3), Ellinwood (33), Sterling (291/3), Hoisington (26), Marion (21) and Nickerson (6).

Chisholm set a league record by clearing 5-feet, 7-inches in the high jump. She followed that with victories in the 100-meter hurdles (15.35 seconds) and 300-meter hurdles (46.69).

Marsh won the long jump (16-31/4), the 100 meters (13.02) and 200 meters (26.57) but missed taking the triple crown of sprints by finishing second to Ellinwood’s Chelsea Malone in the 400 by 0.67 of a second (61.83).

Penner, Frick, Heidel and Chisholm won the 4×400 by nearly 5 seconds with a time of 4:16.07.

Penner and Frick figured prominently in Hillsboro’s winning equation in other events, too. Penner won the league title in pole vault by clearing 8-6 while Frick placed second to Chisholm in both hurdle events.

Other Trojans finishing among the top three in their events were: Carrie Schroeder, who earned a silver medal for HHS in the 1,600 meters (5:42.07); Anna Woelk, who added a bronze in the high jump (4-8); and Heidel, who was third in the triple jump (32-71/4).

In the boys’ division, Hillsboro’s league championship streak ended at four years as the Trojans finished a distant fourth behind a stacked team from Wichita Collegiate (156 points) that defeated its closest rival, Smoky Valley, by 76 points. Sterling was third with 55 points; Hillsboro scored 50.

Following those schools were Marion (42), Halstead (41), Hesston (34), Ellinwood (28), Hoisington (26), Haven (22), Lyons (15) and Nickerson (8).

David Funk and Nate Holmes won Hillsboro’s only gold medals. Funk placed first in pole vault by clearing 13-6 while Holmes won the 800 meters in 2:02.71.

Holmes placed second in the 1,600 (4:35.59) and ran with Cody McMillen, Sean Leihy and Josh Boese on the 4×800 team that placed second to round out Hillsboro’s top-three finishes.

“I am extremely proud of both the boys’ and girls’ teams on the performances today,” coach Dennis Boldt said. “As always, our kids came to compete.

“Expectations play a great deal in how a team’s performance is perceived, by not only the community, but the team itself,” he added. “I feel these athletes not only met these expectations, but exceeded them meet after meet-including today.”

Boldt said he was pleased by the support shown by the number of Trojan track fans who followed the team to Marion.

“The athletes and coaches appreciate all the support here today, we really had a great crowd cheering us on,” he said.

Marion results

Jeremy Vondenkamp led the fifth-place Marion Warrior boys by winning the 300-meter hurdles in 41.7 seconds and placing second in the 110-meter hurdles in 15.75.

“Jeremy was coming off a little injury, so we were pleased with his effort,” coach Grant Thierolf said. “He’ll have to get a little faster yet this week, but he has a very good chance at qualifying for state.”

Other Warriors to finish among the top three were: Casey Nelson, third in pole vault (12-6); Adam Depler, third in shot put (46-71/4); and the 4×400 team of Vondenkamp, Russell Ploutz, Jason Hett and Nelson (3:37.37).

For the girls, Erin Richmond and Danielle Cope were the only Warriors to finish among the top three. Richmond was third in the pole vault (8-0) and Cope was third in the 3,200 meters (12:54.62).

“For the most part, out kids competed hard on Friday,” Thierolf said. “I was a little disappointed in some of our times and distances, but our league is awfully tough.

“If you don’t come prepared, and you don’t do your best, then it’s not a very forgiving meet because there’s always somebody with a better time and a better distance.”

Coming-Hillsboro and Marion will travel to Garden Plain Friday to compete in the regional track and field meet.

Joining them in the field will be Anthony, Chaparral, Cheney, Cimarron, Conway Springs, Eureka, Garden Plain, Halstead, Hesston, Holcomb, Lakin, Leon-Bluestem, Medicine Lodge, Sterling and Wichita Independent.

“Without a doubt it will be the strongest girls’ regional, featuring Garden Plain, Wichita Independent and Hillsboro,” Boldt said. “The boys’ regional will also have some of the top performances in the state.

“Once again it is a qualifying meet for the state track and field championships, and our goal as a coaching staff is to qualify as many individuals and relays teams as possible. Those qualifying out of our regional will have an excellent chance of placing in the state track meet in Wichita.”

Thierolf said preparation will be key for his athletes.

“The thing we’ve talked about over the past three weeks is not wasting our reps in practice,” he said. “Every throw, every jump, every run that they do, do it as if there’s a purpose to everything.”

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