Marvin Smith evaluates and calculates every Southeast Kansas League track meet. The longtime Iola High head track coach does it before the season begins and he usually has a good handle on it.
Now, going into Thursday’s 2012 SEK League track championship meet here, Smith has seen all the league teams during the regular season.
“This is going to be a great league meet. There’s quality competitors in both the girls’ and boys’ divisions,” Smith said. “And we have some of those young people on our teams.”
Smith said he encouraged everyone to come to Thursday’s meet at Iola’s Riverside Park. This is the last SEK track meet for Iola High School athletes and it’s at home.
Field events begin at 3:30 p.m. Preliminaries of the running events start at 4:30 p.m.
Finals for the running events begin at 6 p.m.
There is no admission fee for the meet.
Iola’s Mustangs will go after their sixth consecutive SEK championship in the 4×800-meter relay. Senior Christian Kauth is looking to be a three-time champion and sophomore Tyler Powelson is after his second championship as members of the 4×800.
The Fillies have one of the top hurdlers and sprinters in the SEK in senior Kendra Taiclet. Kelsey Larson, another senior, is a top 400-meter runner and throws the javelin well.
Junior Breanna Stout is a strong pole vaulter for the Fillies. The Fillies have some freshmen who have proved worthy of SEK competition.
The Mustangs have some youngsters to watch for also. Senior Roman Yocham is one of the top distance runners in the SEK for the Mustangs. Michael Wilson and Justin Baker will score points in the pole vault.
“The girls’ division has Pittsburg and Chanute battling and the boys’s division is balanced and it will be a great track meet to watch,” Smith said of his final SEK competition as a coach.
