Trojan and Indian track athletes qualify for state

 

Laike Damman (L), Cailie Logue and Drew Davied (R) are among nine total Trojans that will be representing Girard at the state track meet this weekend in Wichita. Girard will also be sending two relay teams. PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOYCE KOVACIC.

 

By Eric Wilson
eric@hometowngirard.com

Fourteen individuals and two relay teams from Girard and St. Paul have qualified to compete at the State Track Meet in Wichita May 27 and 28.
The state meet is held annually at Cessna Stadium on the campus of Wichita State University. All classes compete at the same venue, unlike other KSHSAA sports
To qualify, athletes were required to place in the top four of their event at their respective regional track meets. Girard will be competing in the 4A classification, while St. Paul will be in 1A.
The Girard boys are sending five individuals and a relay team to Wichita.
Laike Damman has qualified in two events, the 400 and 800 meter runs. Damman has broken both school records at Girard this year and has placed himself among the most elite middle-distance runners in the state. His regional time of 50.08 in the 400 puts him at second in the state, while his 800 time of 1:59.27 places him third.
Fellow senior Drew Davied also qualified in the high jump. Davied is a two-time state champion in the event. Last season, he placed second at the state meet, but he is looking to take the title back. His 6’4” jump at regionals places him second going into state. Davied will be jumping at the collegiate level next track season for Pittsburg State University.
Seniors Jon Zimmerman and Trey Eaton also qualified for state. Zimmerman, 3200 meter run, has a time of 10:05.61 which ranks him seventh in 4A. Eaton qualified in two events: 110 meter hurdles and the 300 meter intermediate hurdles. His times place him at eleventh and eighth in the state respectively.
Ryan Hughes has punched his ticket to state as well in the 1600 and 3200 meter runs. He is ranked fourteenth in the 1600 and ninth in the 3200.
The Girard boys 4×400 relay team also qualified to state and is ranked fourteenth heading into the meet.
Girard’s girls team is sending four individuals and a relay team to state as well.
Cailie Logue, who has seemingly dominated her competition during her high school career, has qualified to state again. She is ranked first in the state in the 800, 1600 and 3200 meter runs and will be aiming for three more state titles to add to her name.
Fellow junior Layne Karhoff has also qualified in the 3200 with a time of 12:19.01, ranking her in the thirteenth spot.
Brooke Casley has qualified in the javelin throw. Her throw of 123’11” ranks her ninth in 4A. Casley will be joining Davied at PSU, as she will be throwing for the Gorillas.
Freshman Rachel Stephans qualified for the state meet in two events. Her times in the 200 and 400 meter dashes have ranked her sixteenth and ninth in the state respectively.

St. Paul Indians
One St. Paul boy will be competing at the 1A level at the state meet.
Noah Winter has qualified in the 400 meter dash with a time of 53.71. His time ranks him fourteenth in 1A.
Four St. Paul girls will be joining Winter at the state meet.
Jenny O’Bryan has qualified in two events. Her times in the 1600 and 3200 meter runs dominate the 1A classification, as she is ranked first in both by several seconds.
Her sister, Sarah, will also be joining her at the state meets in the same events. Sarah is ranked eleventh in the 1600 and sixth in the 3200.
Josie Albertini qualified in two events. Her javelin throw of 106’9” ranks her fifteenth in 1A, while her 100 meter hurdles time of 16.74 ranks her ninth.
Kylee Kennedy also qualified in the 100 meter dash. Her time of 13.59 ranks her fifteenth in the state.
To medal at the state meet, athletes must place in the top eight of the sixteen people competing in their event.
Girard and St. Paul athletes have had great success this season and will look to carry this over into the state meet Friday and Saturday.