Lady Lions track and field team

Weather was a big factor on the University of Kansas meet that some Lady Lions participated in.

“It’s a nice meet, but the conditions weren’t great and we didn’t have a great meet,” said head coach Patty Vavra.

Danee Jones participated in the throwing events, but had her best performance in the discus with a 148 feet toss. The throw places her at seventh in the nation as well as a provisional for the national championship.

Iashia Castle had her best run in the 400 meter of her career with a time of 58.60 placing her 23rd.

Mary Garrett was scheduled to run in the invitational 400-meter hurdles, but was pulled due to the fact that she has had some shin pains, and Vavra thought that the conditions were not good enough to race her.

Garrett is set to race on Saturday at the Drake relays in Des Moines, Iowa. Garrett is originally from Iowa, so it is sort of a homecoming meet. She is still tied for first in the nation in the 400 hurdles, even though she has not raced in the event for several weeks.

Rachel Patterson ran her first 10,000-meter run of the year and beat her old time by a minute and a half. She placed sixth with a time of 39.25.

This week the team is participating in the Bill Williams Invitational at Pitt State due to the fact that Southern’s track and football field are under renovation.

“Going into this next meet, we’ll be just looking to try and get that one last meet in, and hopefully some good marks before conference,” Vavra said.

Vavra hopes to get some good marks from some of her athletes to try and qualify for nationals before conference.

For others, it’s a good chance to rest their arms and legs.

Lions track and field team

Weather conditions are always a factor in outdoor track meets, especially when it is taking place in Kansas.

The Lions track and field team traveled to the University of Kansas relays last week to take part in one of the most elite meets of the year.

B.J. Blocker went up to the meet on March 16 and 17 to participate in his first ever decathlon. His goal was to score 6,000 points, but received 5,700 points. He finished seventh overall out of 16 entries.

Head Coach Tom Rutledge thought Blocker had a good performance for the weather conditions, competition and the fact that it was the first decathlon that he ever participated in.   

“He had a good attitude toward it,” Rutledge said. “He competed hard, and he competed well. I was very pleased.”   

More athletes showed up on the 17th to compete. Petri Kykyri, Paul Koehler and Craig Rhoades all participated in the 10,000-meter run. They placed third, fourth and sixth respectively. Kykyri didn’t improve on his time from the first time racing the 10k earlier this season at Pitt State. Koehler and Rhoades, on the other hand, both achieved personal records.

Arley Smith and Jamie Tallman participated in the hammer throw, Tallman threw for 163-10.

Smith threw a school record and personal best 184-4, which places him in the top 10 in the nation.

“To have two good hammer throwers like Jamie, and Arley is very good,” Rutledge said.

This week the team will travel to Pitt State to participate in what is usually Southern’s Bill Williams Invitational. Southern is unable to host the meet due to the repairs on the track and football field.