LA CYGNE — Iola High’s junior varsity track team had to wait a few extra days to open its 2022 season.
The Mustang athletes were slated to compete Thursday at a Labette County meet before inclement weather prompted organizers to pare the meet to varsity only.
Nevertheless, the Iola thinclads made the wait worth their while Monday with several strong showings at a Prairie View JV meet.
Iola’s girls took home sixth place overall, led by a pair of relay teams.
Iola’s 4×400-meter relay squad of Rebekah Coltrane, Abi Meiwes, Rio Lohman and Alyssa Williams took second with a time of 5 minutes, 8.14 seconds, while Iola’s 4×100-meter relay squad of Ashtyn Aikins-Ansley, Alexis Sirota, Anna Beckwith and Meiwes placed third at 58.21 seconds.
Those athletes also shined in their individual events. Lohman finished fourth in the 300-meter hurdles with a personal best time of 56.73 seconds — nearly a full second better than her mark at last week’s varsity competition. Lohman also took sixth in the 100-meter hurdles. At 20.83 seconds.
“As she gets more in shape, her time will continue to drop,” IHS head coach Dana Daugharthy said. “The 100-meter hurdles is a rhythm race, and for new runners like Rio, she just needs opportunities to develop the rhythm.”
Meanwhile, Iola’s Keira Fawson took third in the 1600 meters with a time of 6:55.55. As a sophomore, Fawson is participating in track for the first time.
“We are really glad to have Keira on the team,” Daugharthy said. “She has a great attitude and a hard work ethic. She puts forth effort in practice. We are excited to see her time drop.”
Beckwith’s long jump of 13 feet, 4.5 inches was good for fourth.
“Anna transferred to Iola and has a ton of potential,” Daugharthy said. “She has good speed and listens well. She is raw in her form so with some practice, I anticipate she’ll be jumping in the 14-foot range before long.”
Coltrane took fourth in the triple jump at 24’9”, despite being sidelined with illness that limited her practice time. She, too, is a track newcomer as a sophomore.
“Triple jump is a hard event to master,” Daugharthy said. “She did a great job with limited coaching, by just being able to get a mark.”
Williams took fourth in the 800-meter run at 3:17.26. She also finished the 400-meter dash at 1:15.74.
“Alyssa Really impressed us with her performance,” Daugharthy said. “She works hard in practice, so it is great to see her have good marks. In distance races, it’s easy to improve over the season, so we look forward to seeing where she will be at the end of the year.”
Shelby Daniels was a workhorse. The newcomer ran the 100 (16.79 seconds), 200 (36.320 and 400 (1:30.86).
