Maggie Wilson captured her second Kansas Class 4A Regional pole vault championship at home Friday. Iola High hosted the regional track meet at Riverside Park.
Wilson, a junior, is headed to state for the third straight season. A year ago a practice accident the week of the state meet prevented Wilson from competing in Wichita.
“I’ll wear a helmet if I have to,” Wilson said smiling after winning the 2010 regional with a height of 11 feet. “I really feel good about this one.”
Last week at home, Wilson defended her Southeast Kansas League championship but wasn’t happy with the way she vaulted. She also was a bit under the weather at the SEK meet.
“I felt better physically today. I came in at 9’6” then skipped to 10’6”. Those vaults felt good,” Wilson said. “My last attempts weren’t as good but I was tired. The 11-foot one was really good.”
Wilson attempted to reach her own IHS record of 11’6” but failed on her three tries. Now, it’s focus on the state meet for Wilson. Freshman Breanna Stout was eighth in the competition at 7’6”.
Wilson combined with sophomores Kelsey Larson and Kendra Taiclet and senior Jazmyne Honeycutt to win the 4×100-meter relay regional title. The foursome posted a winning time of 51.19 seconds.
“I just kept saying ‘get out, get out there.’” said Honeycutt, who ran the anchor leg, as her teammates came around the track toward her. “This is great to be able to go back to state and go after a state medal my senior season.”
Larson had just the boys’ 4×100-meter relay race, which was won in just over 43 seconds, to recover to run in the 400-meter dash. She recovered fine.
Larson is the 2010 400-meter dash regional champion. She won the race in 1 minute, 1.66 seconds. She later ran fourth to qualify in the 200-meter dash in 27.81 seconds.
“The relay felt good. We had great handoffs all the way around. I was nervous about the 400 since I didn’t have much time in between but the relay just warmed me up I guess,” Larson said.
“The 200, well, I was a bit confused about when it was and had to run over, quickly put my spikes on and run it. I just wasn’t paying attention. What’s great is our relay is undefeated this season and we’re going to state.”
Wilson ran third in the 100-meter dash to qualify for the state meet. Her time was 13.41 seconds. Taiclet ran a personal-best time of 49.64 seconds to qualify in the 300-meter low hurdles taking fourth place at the regional.
“I was disappointed in my high hurdle race but winning the relay race was tremendous. I was happy with my race in the 300s,” Taiclet said.
Taiclet took sixth in the 100-meter high hurdles in 16.90 seconds. Taiclet combined with Larson, Chanel Coyne and Wilson for a seventh-place finish in the 4×400-meter relay race in 4:23.87.
Mindy Powelson will finish her senior season for Fillies’ track at the state meet. Powelson took fourth in the javelin with a throw of 111’1”. Kirstin McGuffin was seventh at 108’3” in the event.
Katlyn Cleaver placed sixth in the discus at 107 feet and was ninth in the shot put at 31’ 1⁄2”. Sydney Owens ran the 800 meters in 2:46.57 for 11th.
Wilson, Larson, 4×100 win 4A regional titles
