SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
LINDSBORG, Kan. — Athletes from across central Kansas delivered standout performances Thursday at the Smoky Valley Invitational held at Bethany College, with several local schools making their mark in individual and relay events, on a day that saw wind gusts north of 40 miles per hour.
McPherson’s Matt Burger won the boys 100-meter dash in 11.16 seconds and narrowly missed a double win, taking second in the 200-meter dash (23.46). The Bullpups also took second in the boys 4x100 relay and won the girls 4x800 relay (10:27.97), led by Lexi Patterson, who also won the girls 3200 meters in 12:24.48.
Trinity Catholic’s Isaac Hammersmith stood out by finishing runner-up in the 100 (11.30), placing seventh in the 200, and winning the high jump with a leap of 6-8. He also claimed the long jump title with a mark of 22 feet, 0.5 inches. Trinity’s boys 4x400 relay team placed fourth (3:37.01), and John Lindstrom placed second in the 3200 and third in the 1600.
Buhler’s Lillie Ledford dominated on the girls side, winning the 400 (59.46) and finishing second in the 200 and third in the 100. The Crusaders won the girls 4x400 relay (4:16.20) and placed third in the 4x100. On the boys side, Zach Friesen won the 110 hurdles (15.05), and Aidan Anderson was runner-up in the 300 hurdles (42.27). Buhler also got a pole vault runner-up finish from Max Harmony (14-0).
Pratt freshman Cade Liggett won the boys 200 (23.44) and was fifth in the 100. Teammate Carlito Lara won the boys 800 in 1:59.00 and helped Pratt win the 4x400 relay in 3:26.45. The Greenbacks girls 4x100 team took gold in 51.73.
Smoky Valley’s Esther Clark Pavlovich won the girls 800 (2:25.05) and 1600 (5:39.89), while Trista Spitler swept the horizontal jumps, winning the triple jump (35-6) and placing second in the long jump. Smoky Valley's girls 4x800 relay finished third (10:49.56).
Local athletes from the area dominated many field events as well, with Pratt’s Kollyn Strong winning the boys shot put (51-11), and Buhler’s Ryan Gotti capturing the girls javelin title (122-9).
Team Results Summary (Top Area Performers)
- McPherson: 1st – Girls 4x800, 2nd – Boys 4x100
- Trinity Catholic: 1st – Boys High Jump, Long Jump (Hammersmith); 4th – Boys 4x400
- Buhler: 1st – Girls 4x400; 3rd – Girls 4x100; 1st – Boys 110 hurdles (Friesen)
- Pratt: 1st – Boys 800 (Lara); 1st – Boys 4x400; 1st – Girls 4x100
- Smoky Valley: 1st – Girls 800, 1600 (Clark Pavlovich); 1st – Girls Triple Jump (Spitler)