HOUSTON — The Girard Warriors Track Club competed in the Junior Olympics hosted in Houston, Texas last week. The Warriors had 15 top-20 finishes by 14 different individuals, including a relay team.
Three individuals achieved All-American status by placing in the top-8. Reece Franklin of Frontenac placed runner-up in the 15-16 high jump by jumping 5-7.
Quinn Clevenger of Girard placed fourth in the 13U pole vault by vaulting 6-6.75.
Reese Clevenger of Girard placed seventh in the 17-18 racewalk with a time of 23.48.
The Warriors had two competitors place ninth, one spot away from an All-American finish, in events — Norah Gilmore of St. Mary’s Colgan in the 13U 3,000m and Gaby Tholen of Marmanton Valley in the 12U 1,500m racewalk.
Gilmore had a busy week as she also placed 23rd in the 1,500m and 34th in the 800m.
Isac Ortega from St. Mary’s Colgan finished 10th in the 14U 3,000m as did Kyndal Bugni of Pittsburg in the 14U triple jump.
Bugni also placed 14th in the high jump and 15th in the long jump.
The 4x800m relay team made up of Presley Crotts from Baxter Springs, Eva Onelio of Girard, Emerson Albright of Frontenac and Gilmore placed 11th.
The other top 15 finishers were Tanner Scott of Columbus (12th) and Seth Lawson of Pittsburg (13th) in the 14U pole vault, Mari Gilmore of St. Mary’s Colgan (12th) in the 15-16 3,000m and Jace Gaither of Columbus (14th) in the 15-16 discus.
Mari competed in the 1,500m and 800m during the week and placed 25th and 34th, respectively. Gaither competed in the shot put as well and placed 25th.
“We had some really good performances where kids PR’d in a big way and we also had a couple heart breaking performances, where we thought kids might do better but it just didn’t work out that way,” Warriors coach Nate Clevenger said. “The main thing is I think every one of our kids competed hard and enjoyed the experience. That experience will only help them in their upcoming years of competing in track and field.”
In addition to their top-8 places, Reece Franklin and Quinn Clevenger both competed in their age group’s triple jumps. Reece placed 21st and Quinn, 37th.
Other individuals who competed for the Girard Warriors during the week included Easton Colborn (Chanute) 26th in the 17-18 high jump, Grant Reissig (Erie) 27th in the 17-18 javelin, Ethan Merrick (Frontenac) 36th in the 17-18 shot put and 40th in the discus.
The Girard Warriors Track Club also had a robust coaching staff of Morgan Samuels (jumps/sprints), Laney Lawson (pole vault), Shay Owens (throws), Abby Onelio (distance), Mia Onelio (cross country/distance), Leah Smith (turbo javeliin/javelin), Brett Clevenger (throws), Katrina Burke and Matt Brown (utility coaches).
In addition to spring and summer track, the Girard Warriors do offer cross country in the fall and indoor track meet opportunities in the winter. For more information on those, please go to warriorstrackclub. org.
