By Fred Kroner
With a strong anchor leg from Connor Smith, Oakwood’s 1,600-meter relay raced past Salt Fork in the final 20 meters and captured first place on Thursday (March 30) in a six-team boys’ track and field meet at Tuscola.
Other relay runners were Kaden McDaniel, Macen Phillips and Jakob Rupp.
The Comets outstepped Salt Fork at the finish line, finishing the race in 3 minutes, 52.29 seconds. Salt Fork crossed in 3:52.76.
Smith also posted top-five finishes in two individual events. He was third in the 200 meters and fifth in the 100 meters.
Thomas Wells was the 1,600-meter runner-up and Bryson McDaniel ended third in the triple jump.
The Comets had two placers in the long jump. Sailer Harrison took fourth and Jacob Pricer was fifth. Teammate Tuker Pesek finished fifth in the 110-meter high hurdles.
Oakwood’s 800-meter relay unit of Kaden McDaniel, Connor Taflinger, Pesek and Noah Phillips placed second.
The Comets registered their personal-best marks in 17 individual events, including 100-meter sprinters Taflinger (12.88 seconds) and Jack Ajster (13.44 seconds). Ajster also had his top time in the 400 meters (1:03.28).
Also turning in their top performances were Smith (24.05 seconds in the 200 meters), Wells (5:11.80 in the 1,600), Ben Darling (5:42.00 in the 1,600), Pesek (21.44 seconds in the 110-meter high hurdles), Alex Wells (1:03.70 in the 300-meter hurdles), Doug Myers (32 feet, 11 inches in the shot put), Kade Fleming (29-5 in the shot put) and Harrison (17-0 in the long jump and 34-7 in the triple jump).
Pricer had his best performance in three events: (13.15 in the 100 meters, 54.07 seconds in the 300 hurdles and 16 feet, 8 inches in the long jump). Grant Brewer has new PRs in both the 800 meters (2:32.86) and the discus (71 feet, 3 inches).
The Comets will return to action on Thursday (April 6) in the Vermilion County Meet at Hoopeston Area.
