Saturday, April 29, 2023
ALTOONA-MIDWAY MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK
OSWEGO – Led by eighth-grader Taj O’Conner, who finished first in the shot put and second in the discus, the Altoona-Midway Middle School track squad had its final tune-up before Monday’s Mineral Belt League Track Meet as they participated in the Oswego Junior High Invitational here Thursday.
“It was an ‘A’ team only invitational with some higher-than-normal standards for the jumps and throws, so we didn’t take every athlete to Oswego,” noted AMMS head coach Chary Weilert. “Once again it was a little chilly and damp, and the kids were still tired from Tuesday’s meet at Flinthills, but I’m banking on them getting a lot of well-earned rest this weekend so that they all come out in top-notch form on Monday for our League meet.”
O’Conner’s performance secured 18 points for the Altoona-Midway boys, helping the Jets to finish six out of 12 teams at the event. O’Conner was listed sixth on the “Top Athletes in the Division” for his performance.
“Taj O’Connor had a great night,” Weilert commented. “He placed first in the shot put with a throw of 34-9.5, and Taj also had a personal best in the discus, throwing 92-07, placing him second overall.
“Taj had a great meet, which is what I expect for a talented eighth grader who is finishing up an overall successful middle school track career,” she added.
The Jets’ Chance Mustain also earned team points in three separate evens. Mustain finished sixth in both the open 800 meters and the 1600 meters. Mustain was also a member of the 4x200 relay that placed sixth for Altoona-Midway. Other members of the 4x200, were Chance Carter, Zach Good, and Caleb Kuhn.
Carter also turned in a strong performance in the discus, recording a personal best throw of 89-00 to place fifth.
In the girls’ division, Sandra Morales came up with the best finish for the Lady Jets. Morales tied for fourth in the high jump with a leap of 3-10. The AMMS girls’ 4x200 relay squad placed sixth overall. Lady Jets making up that relay unit were Peyton Drake, Brooklynn Collins, Jasa Pankanskie, and Bella Douglas.
“I also want to recognize the efforts of our sixth grade sprinters last night,” Weilert said. “One-hundred-meter sprinters Bella Douglas and Caleb Kuhn have continued to improve their times every track meet.
They are only sixth graders but they were competing against eighth graders last night (since it was A-team only), and both of them finished in the middle of the pack,” Weilert added. “I can’t wait to see what two more years of growth and experience will do to enhance their speed.”
Oswego (Red) won the boys’ team title with 106 points, while Northeast (80) and Edna (76) finished second and third, respectively.
Oswego (Red) also came out on top in the girls’ standings with 112 points, topping Cherryvale (98) and Northeast (72.5).
The Altoona-Midway track squad is scheduled to return to Oswego on Monday, May 1, for the Mineral Belt League Track Meet.
Saturday, April 29, 2023
ALTOONA-MIDWAY HIGH SCHOOL TRACK
NEODESHA – The Altoona-Midway High School track team sent five individuals to compete in the Neodesha Invitational here Thursday, and all five competed in multiple events.
None of the Jet thinclads were able to place high enough to score team points for AMHS, but they did have two performances that just missed securing Top Ten finishes in their respective events.
Eryn Tiger finished 11th in the girls’ discus with a toss of 67-02, while Ava Tindle also took 11th in the open 400, finishing in a time of 1:17.23.
Tiger also tied for 15th in the shot put with a throw of 20-11. AMHS teammate Jyl Davis threw the shot 23-05 and the discus 51-07, placing her 14th and 17th, respectively, in those events.
Emmalynn Pupanek participated in three events for Altoona-Midway. Pupanek went 11-09 in the long jump, finishing in 16th place. She also had preliminary times of 14.86 in the 100-meter dash and 31.27 in the 200 meters, but did not qualify for the finals in either event.
Tindle was also a three-event participant for the Jets. In addition to her 400 finish, Tindle was 19th in the long jump at 11-00. She ran 31.27 in the 200 prelims, but did not qualify for the finals.
Altoona-Midway’s lone male entrant Thursday was Braxton Wittlake. Wittlake put the shot 26-00 and threw the discus 62-11, placing him 19th in both events.
Team championships were both by Sedan and Neodesha. Sedan won the boys’ title with 107 points, outdistancing Caney with 84 points, Neodesha with 71, and Cherryvale with 69.
The host Bluestreaks captured the girls’ team title with 107 points. Cherryvale was runner-up with 96, narrowly edging Caney’s 94.