Submitted
The Hays Striders traveled to Centerton, Arkansas last week to compete in the AAU Region 16 qualifying track meet. The Top three finishers in multi-events and top five in track and field qualified to compete in the AAU Junior Olympics in Greensboro, North Carolina July 27 - August 3.
The Striders had a record nine Regional Champions, with several athletes taking the top spot in numerous events.
Riley Leiker continued her dominance in the 9 year old girls age division taking 1st in all three of her events - Shot Put - 22’6.25,”, 400 - 1:08.45, and 800 - 2:46.72.
Danica Vap tossed the discus to a Regional Champion distance of 33’7” in the 13 year old girls division. She also placed 2nd in the shot put with a throw of 34’9.”
Sydney Lewallen scored a dominating 2690 points in the 14 year old girls Pentathlon, a full 379 points in front of the second place finisher. Lewallen captured 1st in the long jump, shot put, and 800 during the five event Pentathlon. She also placed 4th in the Individual shot put - 33’1,” 4th in the 400 - 1:03.11, and 4th in the 800 - 2:34.95.
Lyndi Zimmerman, last year's National runner-up in the Pentathlon, captured regional Championship status in the 15-16 girls shot put - 32’5.25” and 100 meter hurdles - 16.01. She finished 4th in the Heptathlon - 3567 Points, 13th in the 200 – 27.44, and 11th in the 400 Hurdles – 1:16.08.
Lakin Scott, in his first year of competition, took Regional champion status in the 8 year old boys shot put with a commanding toss of 18’3.”
Tucker Schmidt continued his banner year of running the 9 year old boys 800 with a blistering time of 2:43.71 to earn a Regional Championship.
Tayte Lewallen was impressive in the 12 year old Boys 80 meter Hurdles, capturing the regional Championship with a run of 14.10 seconds. Lewallen also took 4th in the Pentathlon, 2103 points, 3rd in the 800, 2:37.49, and 4th in the 4x100, along with Gavyn Wolf, Chris Grady, and Casen Flax, with a time of 54.92
Last year's 3000 meter National champion, Emery Zimmerman, comes into this season just as strong by winning the Pentathlon with 2276 points, the 800 - 2:25.22, and 3000 meter run - 10:28.57. Zimmerman also took 2nd in the 1500 - 5:01.38.
Jacob Leiker was crowned Regional Champion in the discus by throwing 111’9.” Leiker also took 3rd in both the Shot put - 33’2,” and javelin - 91’8;” as well as placing 13th in the 800 - 2:30.31.
In all, 20 athletes qualified at the Region 16 AAU event in Arkansas to compete in the National meet in late July. Region 16 comprises athletes from Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Western Missouri and is considered one of the toughest regions in the U.S. to compete in.
Results for the rest of the Striders are listed below:
Gavyn Wolf, competing in the 12 year old boys division, placed 4th in the 4x100 meter dash, 9th in the 200, 28.65; and 10th in the 100, 14.25.
Sydney Wince, 8 Under Girls, Long Jump - 13th, 5’9.25,” Turbo Javelin - 10th, 23’5”
Cheyenne Vap, 9 Girls, Shot Put - 4th, 16’25”
Kersee Wince, 9 Girls, Long Jump - 18th, 8’3.25,” High Jump - 3rd, 2’11,” Turbo Jav - 3rd, 21’8,” Triathlon - 5th, 143
Jessie Wright, 12 Girls, Long Jump - 9th, 13’9,” High Jump - 2nd, 4’4”
Kaliyah Bannister, 15-16 Girls, Long Jump - 9th, 15’3”
Makayla Lewallen, 15-16 Girls, Heptathlon - 9th, 2520 points, High Jump - 7th, 4’7”
Aubrey Birney, 17-18 Young Women, Long Jump - 12th, 14’5,” Triple Jump - 6th, 31’2.50,” High Jump - 3rd, 4’11”
Zoe Brown, 17-18 Young Women, Heptathlon - 10th, 2597 points, Long Jump - 15th, 13’6”
Finley Zimmerman, 8 Under Boys, 400 - 8th, 1:19.72, 800 - 6th, 3:06.78, 1500 - 4th, 6:24.89
Pryce Day, 9 Boys, Long Jump - 25th, 9’00.25
Austin Flax, 10 Boys, Long Jump - 11th, 10’1.25,” 200 - 21, 33.40, 800 - 7th, 2:59.66
Casen Flax, 12 Boys, Long Jump - 6th, 13’8.25,” High Jump - 2nd, 4’6,” 4x100 - 4th, 54.92
Chris Grady, 12 Boys, Long Jump - 13th, 11’5.75, 200 - 10th, 28.73, 4x100 - 4th, 54.92
Robbie Readle, 13 Boys, 400 - 18th, 1:06.50, 800 - 16th, 2:40.34
Logan Leiker, 15-16 Boys, 800 - 28th, 2:26.06, 1500 - 25th, 5:04.62, 3000 m Run - 13th, 11:05
Caleb Englert, 15-16 Boys, Shot Put - 4th, 40’11,” Discus - 8th, 113’03”
Brayden Staley, 15-16 Boys, 400 m H - 5th, 1:08.39, 800 - 26th, 2:25.13
Skeeter Gleason, 17-18 Young Men, 100 - 39th, 12.06, Long Jump - 19th, 18’4.50,” Triple Jump - 11th, 37’5.75”
Kamani Jones, 17-18 Young Men, Triple Jump - 4th, 43’6.50,” Long Jump - 9th, 20’11.75