Six Smith-Cotton Track Athletes Qualify For Sectionals

Six Smith-Cotton High School athletes advanced to sectional competition with their performances Saturday in the Class 5, District 6 track meet at Jefferson City High School.

Senior Mariona Ward finished first place in the girls 100 meter hurdles (14.84) and set a school record in taking first in the girls long jump, leaping 18 feet. Ward also was second in the girls 300-meter hurdles (45.75).

Also advancing to the sectional meet are junior Mekeba Nash, who was fourth in the triple jump (35 feet); freshman Monique Grant, who took third in the 100 meters (12.49) and fourth in the 200 meters (25.68); and freshman Saige Peterson, fourth in the 800 meters (2:22.96). And while they did not advance, the girls 4x100 meter relay team of Ward, Nash, Grant and Peterson broke their own school record with a time of 49.19.

For the boys, junior Chance Johnson was second in both the high jump (6 feet, 4 inches) and long jump (21 feet, 9.5 inches), while sophomore Keoni Hale took third in the high jump (6 feet, 2 inches) and triple jump (45 feet, 2 inches).

“Our kids worked hard all season for the success they achieved on Saturday,” said Coach Brad Hagedorn. “They should be very proud of the way they represented their teammates and Smith-Cotton. Hopefully, their success will continue through sectionals and the state meet.

The sectional meet will be May 23 at Blue Springs High School.