GARNETT — Iola freshman Elysia Kunkler has now competed in three high school track meets and each time she has made incredible strides.
In Thursday’s Anderson County Invitational Kunkler won every event she entered.
The Fillies freshman set personal bests in the long jump and 300-meter hurdles by clearing her previous jump by more than a foot in the long jump and knocking half a second off her intermediate hurdle time.
She won the long jump with a 15’4”, the 100-meter hurdles with a 16.5, the 300-meter hurdles with a 50.83 and the 100-meter dash with a 13.4.
“The fact that she is winning events and setting personal records is a sign that she is going to just get better and better,” Iola coach Dana Daugharthy said.
Daugharthy decided to let freshman Elka Billings run in a varsity meet for the first time this season and she did not disappoint.
Billings took sixth in the 1600 meters with a 6:08.11 and seventh in the 800 meters with a 2:43.17.
“There were some really talented runners at this track meet,” Daugharthy said. “So the fact that she placed as high as she did really speaks to her work ethic and potential.”
Billings also helped the 4×400 relay take fifth with a 4:44.62. Ella Taylor, Madison Carlin and Kylee Maloney joined her on that team.
Carlin, a junior, rounded out the Fillies’ point-getters by taking sixth in the high jump with a personal-best 4’8”.
“I am so pleased with her performance,” Daugharthy said. “She comes to practice every day and has worked really hard ever since she was a freshman.”
In addition to Billings, Kunkler, Maloney and Carlin setting personal bests in the meet, Christine Helman and Erin Klubek also had personal bests.
“Our team is moving in the right direction,” Daugharthy said.
MUSTANGS
Chase Regehr continues to ease into his senior year with the Mustang track and field team and made a big stride on Thursday by setting a season-best in the 800 meters with a 2:10.92 to take fourth at the Anderson County Invitational.
He also had season-best splits in the 4×400 relay and 4×800 relay.
The 4×400 relay finished fourth as a team with a 3:45.09, a season-best. Regehr was joined on the relay by Dan Foust, Cale Barnhart and Nathan Sprague.
Foust also fought to finish fifth in the 300-meter hurdles despite not feeling 100 percent. He ran a 44.53.
“As he was running, you could tell he was in pain, but he pushed through and really demonstrated grit and determination,” Daugharthy said. “I expect a healthy Dan to really be able to drop that time.”
In his first meet of the season, junior Ethan Holloway took fifth in the high jump with a 5’6”.
In addition to Foust and Barnhart, Bryce Andres, Jonathan Rodewald, Trevor Stover and Alex Morrison all had personal bests in their events.
UP NEXT
Iola will go to Fredonia on Friday with events beginning at 3 p.m.
