Eagles Track and Field Shines At Districts

​     Despite gloomy and cool spring weather on Saturday, May 11th, Grain Valley Eagles Track and Field shined at the District meet. The girls team finished first in the Class 4 District 7 Championships held at William Chrisman High School. The boys team finished second with a team score of 139.5.
     “We had some really great performances from a lot of people.  Junior Royce Fisher is moving on with a great day running the 800, 1600, and 3200-meter runs.  A pretty impressive day with a lot of mileage,” Head Track Coach Marc Cleveland said.
     Fisher finished 2nd in the 1600 Meter with a time of 4:33.83, and Mason McCain finished 4th at 4:46.49. Both will advance to Sectionals. 
     “The sprinters had a terrific day in a very tough district for sprints, led by senior Tyler Luke and junior Mason Rogers who set a school record in the 100-meter dash.  Luke and Rogers went 1-2 in the 100 before teaming up with Nate Booker and Logan Pratt to win the 4x100 relay.  Luke later won the 200 m dash,” Cleveland said.
     Senior Cole Hayes continued his impressive run at pole vault, placing first with a  mark of 13-00.00.        
     “Hurdlers Jaiden Yarber and Willie Lanear have also been posting impressive runs in both the 110 high hurdles and 300 intermediates,” Cleveland said.
     The girls team edged out a talented Warrensburg team, taking the team championship with a score of 132.5.
     “We knew that we were going to be in a battle with Warrensburg for the team title. They are a very talented, deep team who is extremely well coached, and we knew that they would be ready. So, our coaching staff tried to spread our girls around into events that would help the team score the most points, that meant a few of them doing events they had never even done before, but they were very good about it and wanted to do what was best for the team,” Girls Track Coach Brian Winckler said.
     Highlights included a first place finish for the 4x800 relay team of Annalynn Early, Valerie Holcomb, Lilly Ogle, and Morgan Scott, who finished with a time of 10:23.64. The 4x400 relay team of Avery Huffman, Gracelyn LaForge, Kailey Larson, and Jayonna Perry also finished first with a time of 4:07.2h.
     “While we had a lot of girls perform very well, sophomore JayOnna Perry and senior Morgan Scott really had great days for us. JayOnna helped score 32 points for the team and Morgan contributed 30 points of her own. Both of those girls have tremendous work ethics and have been willing to do whatever it took to help the team win. Coach Stone, our hurdle coach, has done a great job with both, and has really helped JayOnna come into her own this season. JayOnna broke the school record again in the 300m hurdles, and I have no doubt that she is not done breaking that record this season,” Winckler said.
     Leadership by the senior members on the team has been instrumental to the girls team’s success, according to Winckler.
     “Our seniors have done a great job this year of leading the younger generation and taking care of business in their own races, as well. Morgan and Gracie LaForge have been invaluable to this team for the past 4 years, and both are key members on our 4x4 and 4x800m relays that I think will place very well at State. However, they will be missed as much or more for their leadership as they will be for their outstanding athletic ability,” Winckler said.
    
 

Grain Valley High School Girls Track and Field are 2019 Class 4 District 7 Championships, beating Warrensburg with a score of 132.5.
Photo credit: GVHS Track and Field
 

Mason Rogers ran a 10.72 in the 100-meter dash at Districts on Saturday, May 11th, breaking a school record.
Photo credit: GVHS Track and Field