Courtesy photos
Submitted
Starting in April with a team of 130 athletes, the Striders competed in smaller developmental meets throughout April and May, culminating with qualifying events in June.
“This spring, we sent 64 athletes to Quinter for the Gove County Meet, and 47 athletes to Russell for their meet,” Dave Haberman, head coach of the Striders, said. “When our qualifying meets begin, we usually have 30-40 athletes striving to reach the Junior Olympics.”
The reason for the reduction in numbers is that summer sports have started, with baseball and softball taking some athletes.
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“In addition to other sports, some do not feel they are ready for that level of competition,” Haberman added. “These kids work so hard. Track is not an easy sport, a sport you can practice only sometimes. They are at practice and at meets rain, shine, cold, and heat. We are so proud of them, those just starting out and our qualifying athletes. And we have some great coaching with FHSU record-holder Tim McElroy coaching the throwers, FHSU athlete Keshawn Sewell assisting with the jumpers, and HHS standout and FHSU signee Maddux Winter helping with hurdles.
“Of course, my wife Elaine is the heartbeat of our Club, keeping us all in line,” Haberman added.
The Hays Striders were in competition on June 25-26 at the AAU Region 16 National Qualifier in Lawrence. Region 16 consists of AAU athletes from Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. 11 Strider athletes qualified to compete in the AAU Junior Olympic Games, July 30 through August 7 in Houston, TX. The top 6 individual and top 5 field event placers qualified to advance to the Junior Olympic Games in Houston.
Girls qualifying include TMP Middle School’s Abby Rueschhoff who qualified in the Triple Jump with a leap of 30’00.50” good for 4th place. Beth Bowles qualified in the Turbo Javelin (2nd, 68’10”) and the 80 m Hurdles (4th, 20.27 sec.). Lacy Droegemeier also qualified in the 80 m Hurdles (2nd, 16.85 sec.). Lyndi Zimmerman was also a double qualifier in the Long Jump (4th, 9’4.25”) and the 1500 (5th, 6:38.63).
On the Boys side, Victoria track stand-out Chase Schmidt qualified in the high jump (5th, 4’8”). Dahlon Fischer earned a qualifying spot in the Long Jump (2nd, 12’7”). Eli Dopita pole vaulted his way to a 2nd place finish with a vault of 10’. Lance Lang was a double qualifier, earning the Striders only gold medal in the 80 m Hurdles (1st, 14.44), and also qualified in the 400 (6th, 1:02.73). Matthew Vahling threw the Turbo Javelin for his qualifying spot (5th, 66’11”). Levi Armon, of Ness City, the KSHSAA 2A Shot Put State Champion, qualified in the Shot (4th, 50’3”) and the Discus (5th, 143’11”). Hunter Molthan ran a great race to qualify in the 1500 (3rd, 5:46.61).
Also competing in the AAU Qualifier in Lawrence and just missing qualifying placing were Grace Molthan, Grace Pope, Landon Viegra, Zane Viegra, and Willie Wilkerson.
In addition to qualifying 11 athletes to the AAU Junior Olympics, to Striders continue to strive to qualify for the USATF Junior Olympics, to be held in Sacramento in late July. Olivia Rankin recently qualified in the High Jump and Katie Rankin in the 200 m Dash and Long Jump. Their meet was held in Kansas City on June 18.
Results of the AAU District Qualifier in El Dorado, June 4, 2016 (Top 16 qualify for Lawrence meet)
Girls:
Abby Rueschhoff – 100, 19th, 14.41; Long Jump, 7th, 13-2.25; Triple Jump, 3rd, 28-02.50
Beth Bowles – 80 m Hurdles, 4th, 19.90; Discus, 3rd, 39-07; Tur Jav, 1st, 59-04
Grace Molthan – 200, 20th, 42.74; 800, 16th, 4:40; 1500, 8th, 9:13.30
Grace Pope – 800, 2nd, 2:51.75; 1500, 2nd, 5:47.25
Lacy Droegemeier – 100, 14th, 15.25; 80 m Hurdles, 3rd, 17.37; Long Jump, 4th, 11-07.75 Lyndi Zimmerman – 800, 4th, 3:27.51; 1500, 3rd, 7:12.69; Long Jump, 2nd, 9-01.50 Mallory Henderson – 80 m Hurdles, 4th, 18.53; 800, 11th, 3:24.19
Raegan Brewer – 100, 9th, 17.23; 200, 13th, 37.13, Tur Jav, 6th, 28-07
Rylee Brewer – Discus, 4th, 46-04; Tur Jav, 3rd, 52-11; Shot Put, 4th, 19-05
Boys:
Chase Brewer – 100, 18th, 18.95; 200, 12th, 39.55; Tur Jav, 5th, 46-09
Chase Schmidt – 800, 14th, 2:45.95; Long Jump, 12th, 14-11; High Jump, 3rd, 4-08 Dahlon Fischer – 100, 7th, 15.03; 200, 6th, 33.60; Long Jump, 1st, 11-10.75
Gavin Jacobs – Tur Jav, 12th, 3-06; Shot Put, 5th, 16-10.50
Hunter Molthan – 200, 12th, 36.71; 800, 5th, 2:57.06; 1500, 1st, 5:53.96
Lance Lang – 200, 4th, 28.01; 200, 2nd, 1:03.03; 80 m Hurdles, 2nd, 13.97
Landon Viegra – 800, 12th, 2:53.84; 1500, 7th, 5:51.02; 3000, 6th, 12;21.83
Levi Armon – Discus, 1st, 136-07; Shot Put, 1st, 49-05
Lynkon Vahling – Tur Jav, 10th, 35-01; Shot Put, 12th, 12-11
Matthew Davidson – 200, 16th, 30.95; Long Jump, 16th, 12-3; Shot Put, 8th, 23-06.25 Matthew Vahling – Discus, 4th, 53-05; Tur Jav, 6th, 48-03; Shot Put, 5th, 20-01.75 Tyler Davidson – 100, 19th, 19.18; Long Jump, 9th, 8-03; Shot Put, 5th, 13-02
Willie Wilkerson – Discus, 5th, 104-08; Shot Put, 4th,39-10
Zane Viegra – 100, 14th, 15.91; 400, 19th, 1:28.72; 800, 11th, 3:10.86