Submitted
The Hays Striders track team sent 17 athletes to the 2024 AAU Junior Olympic games in Greensboro, North Carolina from July 27 through August 3.
The meet was highlighted by four Striders earning All-American awards and a National Champion performance by Riley Leiker. Leiker took the gold medal in the 9 year old girls shot put throwing 23’11 ¼.” The multi-talented Strider also found herself on the podium with a 6th place finish in the 800 (2:41.72). Battling a nagging hip injury all year, she toughed out the 400 meter dash finishing 11th (1:09.67).
Also on the girl's side and on the podium was Danica Vap who took the bronze medal and an All-American award in discus throwing an impressive 100.00’ The La Crosse native also placed 19th in the shot put (33’11 ¼”) Her sister, Cheyenne Vap, placed 19th in her first Junior Olympic meet throwing 18’1.”
Sydney Lewallen took an All-American award by taking the bronze medal in the 14 year old girls Pentathlon. The day-long event encompasses the 100 meter hurdles, long jump, shot put, high jump, and 800 meter run. Lewallen, also a standout athlete for Hays Middle School, scored 2707 points. Lewallen had a busy week also competing in the shot put, placing 28th (33’3”), 400
meter dash finishing 68th (1:06.76), and the 800, placing 41st (2:35.75).
Tayte Lewallen took 29th place in the 12 year old boys 4 x 100 meter Relay (55.08) along with teammates Chris Grady, Gavyn Wolf, and Casen Flax. Flax also competed in the high jump, placing 28th and jumping 4’7”.
Tayte Lewallen also ran the 80 meter hurdles, taking 41st (14.93), and the 800 meter run, placing 70th (2:42.74).
The fourth All-American award for the Striders was earned by Emery Zimmerman, last year's National Champion in the 3000 meter run. In the 12 year old boys 3000 this year, Zimmerman placed 5th (10:11.98). He also competed in the boys Pentathlon, taking a 7th place medal (2237 points); the 800 meter run, placing 12th (2:18.39) and the 1500 meter run, finishing 11th (4:48.31).
Running in his first Junior Olympic meet, 8 year old Finley Zimmerman finished 41st in the boys 1500 meter run (6:10.04).
First year Strider Jessie Wright high jumped her way to a 26th place finish and at 4’3 ¼” in the 12 year old girls division.
Lyndi Zimmerman threw the shot put 32’9 ¾” in the 15-16 year old girls division for 27th place, and ran the 100 meter hurdles in 15.49 seconds for 38th. Newcomer Lakin Scott threw the shot put in his first Junior
Olympic meet 16’9” taking 50th place in the 8 year old boys division.
Tucker Schmidt ran his best 800 of the year in the 9 year old boys division, finishing 28th (2:42.89).
In a very competitive field, Caleb Englert tossed his shot put 41’1 ¾” good for a 20th place finish in the boys 15-16 division.
Ranked third nationally coming into the meet and throwing over 111 feet, Jacob Leiker threw in a rain flooded discus ring, placing 43rd and finishing with a 71’ toss. He also threw the javelin 84’11” for a 21st place finish, and the shot put 34’ ¾” for 24th.
Kamani Jones had a rough meet fouling all attempts in the 17-18 young men’s triple jump.
