WICHITA — Iola High sophomore Jesse Taylor, just a sophomore, picked his best time to run his best race of the year.
Taylor, running Friday in the Class 4A State Track Meet, placed 12th in the boys 3200-meter run with a time of 10 minutes, 27 seconds.
“He was able to run a personal record and race against some really good competition,” Mustang head coach Dana Daugharthy said. “It is exciting to see him run under 10:30 as a sophomore, because he is only going to get better. His work ethic and determination will be a force to be reckoned with in 4A state in the years to come.”
Taylor also was part of Iola’s 4×800-meter relay team, along with Jack and Eli Adams and Riley Jay.
“The number one thing I think we were hoping to see, was to see our boys place,” Daugharthy said. “But the reality is, it was a really tough race.”
The quartet placed 11th, 5 seconds off an appear
ance on the medal stand, with their mark of 8:50.87.
Iola’s Jack Adams finished up his decorated high school career with an appearance in the boys 1600-meter run, finishing in 15th.
“I am really proud of all those boys, and how well they performed all season,” Daugharthy said, “including at state.”
ON THE GIRLS’ side, Iola’s Averie Sharon, Audrey Coltrane, Sage Barney and Cara Porter teamed up to finish in the 4×800 relay in 11:28.69, good for 16th, and 20 seconds faster than their previous best.
The finish was a fitting sendoff for Sharon and Coltrane, the two seniors on the squad.
“They all ran really well,” Daugharthy said.
Another senior, Callie Murcko, had a high bar to clear in the girls pole vault.
Her personal best mark was 7’3”, and the opening height at the state meet at 7’6”.
“She cleared that height in practice once,” Daugharthy said.
