Lady Cats win 10 events to capture team title; Wright earns three golds

Louisburg senior Eileen Benne won both the high jump and triple jump titles last Thursday during the Louisburg Invitational.

Delaney Wright continued to show, while she may be a freshman in grade level, she is performing like an experienced veteran on the track.

Wright had a big day at the Louisburg Invitational last Thursday as she racked up three gold medals and helped the Lady Cats to a first-place team finish.

Louisburg finished with 144 points and held off runner-up Prairie View, who had 129. As a team, the Lady Cats won 10 events.

“The first place finish was awesome considering we held out a few athletes from normal events due to going to Kansas Relays,” Louisburg girls coach John Reece said. “With that said, it shows how much all of our runners and jumpers compete at their highest level. We had four seniors compete in their final home meet and all four received two medals each, which is great.”

Wright continued her success in the long jump as she recorded a leap of 17 feet, 3.75 inches to take first and the Lady Cats swept the medals in that event. Junior Carlee Gassman was second with a mark of 16-10.5 and Sydni Keagle was third at 16-3. Freshman Rain Pugh also scored points as she was fifth at 15-4.75.

On the track, Wright blew away her competition in the 200 and 400-meter dashes. She won the 200 in 26.88 seconds and the 400 in 1 minute and 3 seconds. Teammate Andrea Gaza was sixth in the 400 in 1:14 to also score points for Louisburg.

“Delaney is a competitor,” Reece said. “Each meet she comes to win, and if not, she pushes those who beat her. It is almost expected out of her to do well even with her being a freshman.”

The Lady Cats swept the sprints as senior Jordon Leach won the 100-meter dash in 12.88 seconds and Pugh medaled third in 13.23.

Keagle put together a strong time in the 100-meter hurdles as she took gold in 16.32 seconds and senior teammate Kristen Bell was third in 20.18. Bell also medaled third in the 300 hurdles in 1:02.

The 4×100-meter relay team of Gassman, Keagle, Pugh and Leach also finished first in 51.93 seconds.

In the field events, senior Eileen Benne was successful in her final home outing. Benne finished the day with two gold medals.

Benne opened with a gold medal performance in the triple jump with a mark 29-11.5 and also won the high jump after she cleared 4-8.

“Eileen winning both the high jump and triple jump as outstanding,” Reece said. “She was all smiles when the medals were handed out afterward”

It was also a big day at the pole vault for Avery Graham. The Louisburg junior set a new personal record as she cleared 10 feet to take gold and freshman Malee Rutherford also scored points as she was fourth after clearing 6-6.

“Avery is doing great,” Reece said. “I’m proud of her for clearing 10 feet. The PR monkey is now off her back and I hope she continues to go higher.”

Back on the track, senior Shaylor Whitham medaled in both of her distance races. Whitham was third in the 800 run in 2:55 and teammate Bailey Hallas was fifth at 3:02.

In the 1,600 run, Whitham medaled third in 6:22 and freshman Lacie Kallevig was sixth overall in 7:03.

The Lady Cats ended the meet on a strong note as the 4×100 throwers relay of Shea O’Hara, Mable Graham, Aiyana Penca and Eden Strumillo won in 1:09.

Louisburg is back in action today when it travels to the Prairie View Invitational. The meet is set to begin at 3:30 p.m.

“There will be some shuffling of athletes through the next few meets so that we get a good look at all of our options,” Reece said. “There will be some asked to step up as we near the end of the season and look to the future and it looks bright.”

Other results are:

100 dash: Andrea Gaza , 9^th, 14.58; Hannah Cook, 11^th, 15.45; Gabbie Nichelson, 14^th, 15.59

200 dash: Gaza, 9^th, 31.51; Nichelson, 12^th, 32.62; Cook, 16^th, 34.0

400 dash: Lakin Cunningham, 7^th, 1:20

800 run: Lacie Kallevig, 7^th, 3:17

Shot put: Shea O’Hara, 8^th, 28-4.5; Cayden Forrester, 9^th, 25-7; Eden Strumillo, 10^th, 24-10; Aiyana Penca, 14^th, 24-2; Mable Graham, 17^th, 23-1.5

Discus: Penca, 7^th, 84-6; Forrester, 10^th, 79-10; Graham, 11^th, 72-8; Strumillo, 12^th, 68-8; O’Hara, 15^th, 54-11

Javelin: Lexi Rogers, 18^th, 43-2

Wright medals at KU Relays

With all the success she had at her home meet, Louisburg freshman Delaney Wright didn’t stop there.

Wright competed in the long jump Saturday at the Kansas Relays in Lawrence and it was a loaded field. Wright, who was the lone freshman in the event, was the first one to go and her mark of 16 feet and 10 inches was good for ninth overall to earn a medal.

“Her ninth place finish at the Kansas Relays in the long jump is a prime example of her grit and determination to her best,” coach John Reece said.

Wright recorded her medal-winning mark in her final attempt of the preliminaries, which helped her get to the finals.

On Friday, junior Carlee Gassman also competed in a tough field in the 300-meter hurdles. Gassman had a season-best time of 48.05 seconds to take 22^nd overall.

“Carlee is getting back to her form and getting in better shape for the 300’s,” Reece said. “She is a hard worker, worked out Sunday evening on her own at the track with dad and brother and sister, and she will be ready come regional and state meets.”

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