Hays Striders
The Hays Striders were in competition August 3 - 8 at the 2026 AAU Junior Olympic Games at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
Twenty-two Striders qualified to move on to the national meet by competing in the Missouri Valley District and Region 16 Qualifiers in Topeka and Wichita, respectively.
An athlete qualifies for the Junior Olympics by finishing in the top 6 at the Regional meet, consisting of Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
Coming out of the District meet the Striders had six District Champions, all earning gold medals:
Riley Leiker in 800 meter run and shot put; Jovie Staab in discus; William Scott in shot put; Finley Zimmerman in 400 meter dash; Liam Baier in shot put and discus; and Garrett Kern in shot put.
Five Regional Champions from the Striders were earned at the Wichita meet:
Riley Leiker in shot put; William Scott in shot put, Liam Baier in shot put; Emery Zimmerman in 3000 meter run; and Jaxson Chartier in shot put.
“Our throwers did exceptionally well this year,” Coach Dave Haberman stated. “Those performances were accomplished with the dedicated guidance of our great throws coach Traci Vap. She drives from La Crosse almost daily and the kids just love her!”
At the Junior Olympics in Des Moines, three Striders earned medals and All-American status.
Cheyenne Vap was National Runner-up in the 11-year-old division discus taking 2nd place with a toss of 77’10”.
Riley Leiker placed 5th in shot put, 32’9”.
Emery Zimmerman brought home two medals - 8th place in the 1500, 4:24.44; and National Runner-up in the 3000 meter run, placing 2nd, 9:32.89.
“Our qualifiers are special kids. They’re very, very motivated. But, all of our athletes are special, they really are,” Coach Haberman said. “They definitely put the time in all spring and summer to strive to be the best they can be. Success leaves clues, and two of the clues are buying into the program and showing up every day to get better.”
Complete team results are:
Ruby Baier, 9-year-old Girls - High Jump, 17th, 3’3”
Sydney Wince, 9-year-old Girls - High Jump, NH; Turbo Javelin, 28th, 36’0”
Adalie Hann, 10-year-old Girls - Long Jump, 57th, 9’7 ¾”
Riley Leiker, 11-year-old Girls - Shot Put, 5th, 32’9”; 800, 11th, 2:32.75; 400, 16th, 1:03.53
Cheyenne Vap, 11-year-old Girls - Discus, 2nd, 77’10”; Shot Put, 21st, 26’0”
Kersee Wince, 11-year-old Girls - High Jump, 33rd.3’7”; 80 meter hurdles, 46th, 19.35
William Scott, 8-year-old Boys - Shot Put, 10th, 23’2 ½”
Boedy Chartier, 10-year-old Boys - Shot Put, 18th, 24’2 ½”
Lakin Scott, 10-year-old Boys - Shot Put, 17th, 24’5”
Liam Baier, 13-year-old Boys - Discus, 9th, 128’1”; Shot Put, 14th, 34’4¼”
Jace Cearley, 13-year-old Boys - Discus, 23rd, 94’11”
Damian Chartier, 13-year-old Boys - Shot Put, 28th, 29’10 ¼”; Javelin, 22nd, 92’8”
Gavyn Wolf, 14-year-old Boys - 200, 56th, 24.86; 400, 44th, 55.19
Emery Zimmerman, 14-year old Boys - 800, 33rd, 2:12.23; 1500, 8th, 4:24.44; 3000, 2nd, 9:32.89
Abel Clark, 15-16 Boys - Javelin, 9th, 152’4”
Garrett Kern, 15-16 Boys - Shot Put, 19th, 42’5 ¼”; Discus, 36th, 118’8”
Jacob Leiker, 15-16 Boys - Shot Put, 22nd, 41’11 ½”; Discus, 28th, 19’5”
Jaxson Chartier, 17-18 Young Men - Shot Put, 15th, 50’9 ¼”; Discus, 26th, 139’2”
Caleb Englert, 17-18 Young Men - Shot Put, 14th, 50’10 ¼”
Parker McGuire, 17-18 Young Men - Discus, 22nd, 141’7”
Striders who qualified but did not compete include Jessie Wright, Kyland Karibo, Jackson Karibo, and Brayden Staley.