​Eagles fend off Jaguars to take first in home invitational

by Michael Smith



The Grain Valley girls track and field team was cruising.

It was leading all 12 teams in team points for most of the Marc Cleveland Grain Valley Invitational Thursday at Moody Murry Memorial Field.

Blue Springs South made a late surge during the final four events, but the Eagles managed to hang on to win their home meet with 99 points.

South was a close second place with 95.

The Eagles accomplished this despite holding out some of their athletes to get ready for the Kansas Relays that take place this weekend at the University of Kansas.

“We had some girls step up in some different roles today,” Grain Valley girls track head coach Nick Small said. “We had a couple of girls get varsity medals that typically don’t get the opportunity to.  All around it was cool to watch that for sure.”

Freshman Madison Rust was one of those who stepped up as she was the primary javelin thrower with senior McKenah Sears not competing. Sears is one of the favorites to win the state champion in the javelin this season, so Rust had some big shoes to fill.

Rust broke out and took first place in the javelin event with a throw of 119, 2 inches. She was also a part of the thrower 4x100 relay team along with sophomore Addison Wright, freshman Eva Oehlke and junior Bailey Mason that won with a time of 56.71 seconds.

“I just started javelin and I thought it would be fun,” said Rust, who is ranked No. 5 in the javelin in the United States among freshmen. “I am decent at it. I came out and didn’t know anything about javelin. I watched McKenah and she plays all the sports I play like softball, basketball, and track. She has taught me everything I know along with Coach (Flip) Courter.”

Rust was one of four girls to in field events, which seemed to be the biggest strength for the girls team.

Junior Alyssa Carver showed why she could be a contender for a state title this year on Thursday. Last season, she finished in fourth place in the pole vault at the Missouri State High School Track and Field Championships. At the Grain Valley Invitational, she took first with a height of 10 feet, 10 inches. The second-place finisher, Grain Valley’s Megan Prestia, had a height of 9 feet, 10 inches.

“I don’t think I jumped the best I ever have,” Carver said. “It’s still always cool to come out on top and learn from my experiences. I have the KU Relays this weekend, so I can always come back and do better then.”

“I hope I can at least match my (personal record) there and win for myself.”

Other Eagles girls to win were junior Izzie Salsman in the high jump with a height of 4 feet, 11.75 inches and senior Izabella West in the long jump with a distance of 17 feet, 6 inches.

“I feel like I did pretty well despite how cold it is out here,” said Salsman, who competed in temperatures in the low 50s. “This time, I tried to envision myself making it over the bar and that pushed me from the beginning.”

Boys
The Grain Valley boys track and field team came on strong late.

The Eagles finished third in the 4x400-meter relay race and took first in the 4x100 throwers’ relay, which helped them rack up 16 points in the final two events, and it was enough for them to finish second with 82 points.

Lee’s Summit finished third with 80.25 points and Blue Springs South won with 126.5 points.
“The 4x400 relay team was huge,” Grain Valley head boys coach Erik Stone said. “They finished high enough to help us overtake Lee’s Summit for second place.”

Aside from the throwers’ relay, the Grain Valley boys team finished first in two other events.

The 4x200 relay team of Ty Williams, Anthony Greco, Noah Olah and Terrell King took first with a time of 1:33.45. It is a team Stone could make some noise this season.

“This team keeps getting better,” Stone said. “There is one stick we can get better with that didn’t do too well tonight, but they keep improving and working hard. That is one of the relays we feel like we have a chance with.”

Senior Stylz Blackmon is someone who could earn an all-state honor this season. He broke the school record for the shotput at another meet on Tuesday with a throw of 52 feet, 11.8 inches. He is currently ranked fifth in Class 5 and 11th in Missouri in the event.

On Tuesday, he took first with a throw of 50 feet, 5.5 inches. He was also a part of the throwers’ relay team that took first.

“I am really blessed to be able to compete against such great talent,” Blackmon said. “Although I have thrown well at previous meets, I am still looking to grow and get better. I want to get back to where I was last year and make it to state. I didn’t do too well and state last year. I want to go there and make a name for myself this time.”

Grain Valley junior Izzie Salesman finished third in the high jump with a height of 4 feet, 11.75 inches. Photo credit: Michael Smith

0202: Grain Valley freshman Madison Rust filled in for McKenah Sears in the javelin event Thursday at the Marc Cleveland Grain Valley Invitational. She took first with a distance of 119 feet, 2 inches. Photo credit: Michael Smith

​Grain Valley junior Alyssa Carver took first place in the pole vault with a height of 10 feet, 10 inches. Photo credit: Michael Smith