Kimball had limited entries at the Bayard B-C-D Track Invite this past Friday as coach Gene Mohr elected to hold out several of his athletes from competition due to injuries, illness, and tired bodies. None the less, the Longhorns had some highlights in this large event that attracted 13 schools.
Sidney won both the girl's and boy's divisions with Mitchell, Bridgeport, and Alliance following in order in both divisions of the team scoring. Kimball finished ninth in both divisions scoring 26 points in the boy's division and 20 in the girl's division.
Trent Rutledge was feeling a bit leg weary but was still enthused to compete in his events and won the pole vault at 13'0" and almost cleared his career height of 13'6" again. He also ran seventh in the 110 meter high hurdles as the format was placing 8 in this meet contrary to the usual 6 places. Rutledge's time was 17.75. Brady Kilgore ran third in the high hurdles in 16.46 after clocking 16.14 in the prelims for a career best time. The talented young freshman also ran fifth in the 300 hurdles in 44.81.
Another freshman performed well for the Horns as Zach Wagner, shown at left, ran seventh in the 3200 meter run with a time of 11:36.06 and finished seventh in the triple jump at 38'11". Brandon Barker, Kimball's top distance runner, did not compete because of illness, and neither did Jaden Withrow, the area's top triple jumper and one of the top long jumpers. Withrow is nursing a knee that he injured in football last fall. It is the hopes of the Kimball coaches that the needed rest will allow their athletes to be at full power for today's (Thursday) District and state qualifying meet in Grant.
A gold medal performance for sophomore Hannah Biesecker in the long jump as the young jumper is really peaking in this event and won Friday with a leap of 16'3". She has the best jump in the district going into today's meet. Madison Biesecker finished eighth with her best jump on the day of 14'8.50". Jannel Fiehtner was eighth in the triple jump at 30'5". Ali Hunsaker placed fourth in the pole vault at 8'6". Kate Reader scored the only Kimball points on the track finishing sixth in the 200 meter dash with a time of 28.89.