14 Trojans set personal bests at Smoky Valley years ago
Sports reporter
It wasn't the best day for the Hillsboro High School Trojan track teams, but 14 athletes set personal records, and one tied a school record. The boys' team took sixth place and the girls' team tied for second at the invitational.
"The theme of today seemed to be 'personal records,'" head coach Dennis Boldt said. "Not just season best, but career best."
Not surprisingly, junior JuliAnne Chisholm led the way for the girls' team with first-place finishes in the high jump, 100-meter high hurdles, and the 300m low hurdles. She also was a member of the 4x400m relay team of Tiffany Rooker, Carrie Schroeder, and Hannah Marsh, that took first place with a time of four minutes, 15.43 seconds. Chisholm's time of 45.86 seconds in the 300m hurdles tied her personal record.
Marsh racked up points for the team as well, winning the long jump and pole vault, and taking third in the 200m dash. Tina Frick finished second to Chisholm in the 100m hurdles, and took sixth in the 300m hurdles. Rooker, Schroeder, Shelby Koons, Anna Woelk, and Chelsea Bebermeyer all placed in the top six in their respective events. In all, the Trojans scored 90 points to finish tied for second with Southeast of Saline, 42 points behind champ Smoky Valley.
Boldt liked what he saw, but knows his team can do better.
"We obviously are not where we want to be a month from now," he said. "But it is crucial that we develop throughout the season, not peaking early and not wearing down the athletes in the process of training."
The boys' team finished in the middle of the pack, totaling 52 points and finishing sixth. Still, some individual performances excited Boldt.
Tim Funk won the high jump event with a lead of six feet, one inch, and finished fourth in the 110m high hurdles, with a time of 16.53.
"Tim is very focused on his events this season and is showing his leadership by example in his attitude and work ethic," Boldt said.
Boldt was happy with his throwers, Adam Dirks and Jacob Yoder who finished third and fourth respectively in the javelin. Boldt said he could not remember the last time two Trojans placed in the top six in the javelin at an invitational. Dirks threw 156-1.5 and Yoder went 148-7.5.
"We had talked earlier in the season that 150 feet would possibly place in such a meet, and it held true today," Boldt said.
The Trojan's distance runners had a good day as well. Cody McMillen, Sean Leihy, and Matt Klenda all set personal records in the 3200m run. McMillen took third place with a time of 10:27.08, and Leihy was fifth after finishing in 10:38.22.
Nate and Thad Holmes both placed in the 800m run. Nate was third after a time of 2:03.98, and Thad was fourth with a time of 2:08.35. Jonathan Christian did not place, but set a personal record in the 1600m run with a time of 5:20. The 4x800m relay team of Leihy, Josh Boese, McMillen, and Nate Holmes picked up a second-place finish with a time of 8:36.70.
Hurdlers Clinton and Grant Schneider earned points for the Trojans as well with a pair of sixth-place finishes. Clinton ran 17.10 in the 110m race, and Grant 46.07 in the 300m.
"The boys had an excellent day resulting in some great times, Boldt said.
Hillsboro CKTL
Both Trojan teams took first place April 11 at the Hillsboro CKTL. The boys' team had 27 places and the girls' had 25 at the meet designed to give younger runners a chance to compete.
The boys' team racked up 112 total points and the girls' scored 120 total points. Look on page six for complete results of the meet.
