Submitted
The Hays Striders track team have finished their final practices in preparation to send a contingent of qualifiers to the AAU Junior Olympic Games July 29 through Aug. 7 in Greensboro, N.C. Coming off stellar performances at the Regional Qualification meet in Joplin, the Striders are overcoming not only sweltering Kansas heat but also a change in practice venue to be ready for Nationals.
The change in venue is due to both Hays Middle School and Hays High School tracks undergoing a resurface, seal, and striping this summer.
“We have had to move our practices out to the Fort Hays track and we are very grateful for the support and consideration that Coach Jason McCullough and the Tiger athletic department has given us by allowing us to practice on their track,” Head Coach Dave Haberman said.
The heat has also changed daily practice times from 6 to 7 p.m.
“Traditionally, we do change our practice time from 6 to 7 every summer as temperatures rise above 100 degrees and although they need to train in the heat, we are very conscious of heat-related injuries for our kids,” Haberman said.
Coming out of the National Qualifier in Joplin last month, 16 Striders qualified to make the cross country trip to North Carolina A&T for the Junior Olympics. The team had six Gold medal finishes and those athletes will be presented with the coveted Striders “Regional Champion” shirts. Aliviah Ball, 14, took first place in the high jump and tied the meet record; Riley Leiker, 7, won the 400 meter dash and broke the meet record; Lyndi Zimmerman, 13, won the 200 meter hurdles; Audrina Ortiz, 14, won the 200 meter hurdles, and Emery Zimmerman, 10, won both the 800 and 1500 meter runs.
“We are proud of all our Strider athletes,” Haberman said, “they are some of the hardest working kids we’ve ever had.” When asked what their favorite workout is, several athletes commented “the Madness Run.”
“The Madness Run is a special workout I devised to work two events at once – the 400 and 800,” Haberman added. “It’s hands down the best workout we use for those events, and it shows with their performances. New kids, high school and college athletes, and most parents are shocked as to how hard it is, but our returning athletes know the run makes them super competitive. Many events at Joplin had up to 60 athletes competing for those top 6 spots, and our athlete’s finishes, jumps and throws are a testament as to how hard they practice.”
The Top 6 in individual events and top 4 in the Multi-Events qualified for the Junior Olympics out of Joplin.
Complete Regional results for the Girls are:
Riley Leiker: 8 Under, 400-1st 1:15.86; 200-9th 35.12; Long Jump-12th 8’6”
Danica Vap: 11, Shot Put-2nd 27’7”; Turbo Javelin-5th, 53’8.75”
Sydney Lewallen: 12, 800-5th, 2:41.50; 400-8th, 1:09.96; Long Jump-7th, 13’7”
Makayla Lewallen: 13, Pentathlon-2nd 2194 points; 1500-5th 5:26.18; 100 hurdles-5th 18.17; 200 hurdles-8th 34.06; 800-14th 2:54.50
Lyndi Zimmerman: 13, 200 hurdles-1st 31.69; Pentathlon-4th 1804 points; 200-16th 28.75; 400-17th 1:10.87; 1500-12th 6:04.12
Aliviah Ball: 14, High Jump-1st 5’4”; 100-23rd 13.85; 200-28th 28.91; 400-22nd 1:07.96
Kaliyah Bannister: 14, Long Jump-20th 13’7”; High Jump-9th 4’4”
Audrina Ortiz: 14, 100 hurdles-2nd 17.16; 200 hurdles-1st 30.81
Ka’Mara Harvey: 15-16, 100-46 14.63; 200-45th 31.19; 100 hurdles-16th 18.57
Kaelyn Means: 17-18, Shot Put-4th 32’5”; Discus-3rd 114’9”
Complete Regional results for the Boys are:
Finley Zimmerman: 8 Under, 400-43rd 1:42.46; 800-14th 3:30.42; 1500-9th 7:19.51
Tayte Lewallen: 10, Triathlon-4th 462 points; 800-3rd 2:45.46; 1500-3rd 5:35.98; Long Jump-11th 10’6”
Emery Zimmerman: Triathlon-5th 447 points; 400-11th 1:11.39; 800-1st 2:40.72; 1500-1st 5:27.65
Jacob Leiker: 11, Shot Put-2nd 30’7”; 400-13th 1:09.54; 800-7th 2:41.28
Kobe Schmidt: 11, 400-5th 1:05.95; 200-11th 29.78; 100-15th 14.76
Bladyn Werth: 12, 1500-14th 5:51.24; 3000-8th 13:24.85
Austin Bland: 13, Javelin-2nd 99’2”; 400-11th 1:00.30; 1500-8th 5:20.75
Logan Leiker: 13, 3000-2nd 11:33.49; 1500-3rd 5:05.85; 800-10th 2:32.99
Caleb Englert: 14, Shot Put-3rd 37’10”; Discus-8th 111’7.50”
Brayden Staley-Herman: 14, Long Jump-15th 12’2”
Oscar Busch: 15-16, Long Jump-20th 17’1”; 100-42nd 13.19
Grayson Walburn: 17-18, Discus-3rd 152’3”; Shot Put-6th 42’11”