MARION – Just prior to the last event at the Marion Night Invitation at Marion Harding High School, a fireworks display took to the air.
But, earlier in the night, AnneMarie Moses made her own fireworks.
The Lady Giant pole vaulter broke both the meet and her own Fremont Ross record, reaching a height of 12 feet, 2 inches, topping her own record by an inch and setting the meet mark by two inches.
AnneMarie Moses
Her first-place performance comes as a well-earned reward for a frustrating spring which has made it difficult for all track athletes to get their work in, but pole vaulters in particular as several meets had to cancel the pole vault competition.
“She’s been getting a little frustrated by her lack of being able to compete with the bad weather,” girls track and field coach Travis Bates said. “I think she was starting to get down and you know how kids can lose confidence, and I think that really shot her confidence back up. She was beaming. That was awesome.”
Moses’ performances was the highlight of a meet that tested both teams with unfamiliar competition, designed to give the Little and Lady Giants a wider glimpse of the caliber of competition they may come across if they qualify for the state meet.
The Lady Giants finished sixth out of 15 teams, totaling 53 points, while the boys team compiled 37 points to place ninth.
“It was a really good night last night, we thought,” boys head coach John Elder said. “It was exactly why we wanted to get into that meet. It was very competitive with teams we don’t normally see, which is good for the kids to see and experience and the weather was nice for a change. It was good.”
Moses’ record-setting vault was one of a handful of stellar performances in the field events for both the girls and boys teams.
McKela Elder
Olivia DeRodes finished second in the high jump, reaching a height of 5-02. In the shot put, Olivia Baptista finished second with a throw of 34-05 and Emma Jahns took fourth with a distance of 31-08.
Bates said his throwers still have mechanics to smooth out, to get full power from their legs and hips, rather than just using their arm. He believes his throwers, already performing well, are close to a significant improvement
“There are just little things now to work on that will make a difference,” Bates said. “Both of them can throw 36 or 37, (Which) will be solid at regionals, maybe score some points at regionals with that. It really takes 38, 39 (to reach state).”
The boys team enjoyed a pair of quality performances by Jason Burling. Burling took third in the shot put (47-09) and sixth in the discus (121-11). Burling finished just behind teammate Mike Thomas, who reached a distance of 126-08, who placed fifth in the discus.
Pole vaulter Keaton Jordan cleared a height of 13 feet to finish third in the event.
“We’re getting points from Jason Burling and Mike Thomas in the field events and Keaton Jordan in the pole vault and from Isaac Smith, though (Smith) didn’t score points in the pole vault, he got 12 feet last night, a personal best, which sets us up in future meets with that kind of pole vaulting from the two of them.”
Matt Kuyken
The Little Giants needed points from the field events because the Little Giants’ sprinters are beat up. Oliver Ellis, Bryce McKinstry and Devyn Jagodzinki are all battling various leg injuries and distance runner Matt Kuyken has been under the weather, though that didn’t slow him down in the 800.
Kuyken posted a personal-best time of 1:57.28 to claim first-place in the event, the only first-place finish for the boys Friday night.
Fellow long-distance runner Ethan McClory ran a strong race in the 3200, clocking a time of 10:06.66, placing him second in the event.
“The last couple of years, we’ve been extremely strong on our sprinter side and not on the distance and field events,” Elder said. “So, it’s kind of cool to see the tide turning. If we can get our sprinters going, it’ll be all right.”
The Lady Giant runners were led by McKela Elder. Elder placed second in the 1600 with a personal-best time of 5:31.30 and clocked 2:28.98 while taking third in the 800.
Elder also ran legs on the 4×800 (along with Madalyn Metcalf, Hayley Wilson and Mara Brown) and the 4×400 (with Metcalf, DeRodes and Ashtyn Schneider). Bates was pleased with the performances of his relays, and with Schneider in particular.
Jason Burling
“She really impressed me with what I think she’s capable of,” Bates said. “She has to get confidence in herself. …She’s strong, she’s got a great stride, she’s a great athlete, she plays soccer and was a swimmer for the first time. I think she’s got great upside.”
Janna Sutton rounded out the Lady Giants’ scoring by placing eighth in the 100 hurdles with a time of 17.36.
Ross’ track and field teams will travel to Toledo Central Catholic on Tuesday for a duel meet against the Irish before hosting the Little Giant Invitational next Saturday morning.
Marion Night Invitational
GIRLS
Team results: 1. Olen. Liberty 119; 2. Galion 83; 3. Lexington 68; 4. Madison Comprehensive 62; 5. River Valley 55; 6. Fremont Ross 53; 7. Ashland 51.5; 8. Dublin Jerome 50; 9. Col. S. Girls 26; 10. Mansfield Senior 24; 11. Buckeye Valley, 21; 12. Hil. Davidson 18.5; 13. Wester. South 17; 14. Reynoldsburg 11; 15. Marion Harding.
4×800 Relay: 5. McKela Elder; Madalyn Metcalf; Hayley Wilson; Mara Brown; 10:27.00
100 Hurdles: 8. Janna Sutton, 17.36
100 Dash: No place
4×200 Relay: No place
1600 Run: 2. McKela Elder, 5:31.30 PR
4×100 Relay: No place
400 Dash: No place
300 Hurdles: No place
800 Run: 3. McKela Elder, 2:28.98
200 Dash: No place
3200 Run: No place
4×400 Relay: 6. Madalyn Metcalf; Olivia DeRodes; Ashtyn Schneider; McKela Elder; 4:24.24
Long Jump: No place
High Jump: 2. Olivia DeRodes, 5-02.00
Shot Put: 2. Olivia Baptista, 34-05.00; 4. Emma Jahns, 31-08.00
Discus: No place
Pole Vault: 1. AnneMarie Moses, 12-02.00
BOYS
Team results: 1. Ashland 91; 2. Olen. Liberty 83.5; 3. Wester. South 75.33; 4. Reynoldsburg 66.33; 5. Lexington 52; 6. Dublin Jerome 50; 7. Hil. Davidson 48.5; 8. Galion 50; 9. Fremont Ross 37; 10. Madison Senior 29; 11. River Valley, 26.33; 12. Madison Comprehensive 23; 13. Marion Harding 21; 14. Buckeye Valley 18.
4×800 Relay: No place
110 Hurdles: No place
100 Dash: No place
4×200 Relay: No place
1600 Run: No place
4×100 Relay: No place
400 Dash: No place
300 Hurdles: No place
800 Run: 1. Matt Kuyken, 1:57.28 PR
200 Dash: No place
3200 Run: 2. Ethan McClory, 10:06.66
4×400 Relay: No place
Long Jump: No place
High Jump: No place
Shot Put: 3. Jason Burling, 47-09.00
Discus: 5. Mike Thomas, 126-08; 6. Jason Burling, 121-11
Pole Vault: 3. Keaton Jordan, 13-00.00