Payton Carter wins pole vault at Champaign County girls’ track and field meet
By Fred Kroner
St. Joseph-Ogden had one individual champion and 12 athletes who placed among the top 12 individuals recorded lifetime bests on Saturday in the 10-school Champaign County girls’ track and field meet at Urbana.
The Spartans’ titleist was pole vaulter Payton Carter, who cleared 10 feet, 10 inches.
Two SJ-O athletes registered their personal bests in two events.
Lyla Frerichs was third in the 100-meter hurdles (18.94 seconds) and sixth in the pole vault (1.98). Ally Schmitz finished fourth in the 100-meter hurdles (19.12 seconds) and seventh in the pole vault (6 feet).
Other squad members with PRs were Kaytlyn Baker (fourth in the 800 meters in 2:42.59), Hannah Mock (fifth in the 400 meters in 1:10.34), Sophia Kasper (eighth in the 800 meters in 2:50.09), Sydney Steinbach (11th in the 1,600 meters in 6:40.35).
Two Spartans in the discus also hit their top marks. Addison Rose placed seventh (71 feet, 7 inches) and Allison Ochs was 12th (62 feet, 1 inch).
Other teammates with PRs were Yamilka Casanova (fourth in the triple jump at 29 feet, 8 inches), Frerichs (sixth in the pole vault at 6 feet, 5 inches) and Madison Clampitt (ninth in the pole vault at 5 feet, 5 inches).
Sprinter Helene Jones captured second in the 400 meters in 1:06.60. She also ran the 200 meters, a race which had 43 contestants, and ended 13th. Her time was 29.40.
Hurdlers Schmitz (fourth in 55.99 seconds) and Frerichs (sixth in 58.67) were among the leaders in the 300-meter event.
Emily Elsbernd was near the top in both the long jump (third at 16 feet, 1 inch) and the triple jump (fifth at 29 feet, 2 inches). Also in the long jump, Casanova tied for 12th (12 feet, 8 inches).
High jumper Frerichs recorded a fourth-place finish (4 feet, 7 inches).
There were no team scores at the County meet.
SJ-O will return to action on Tuesday (April 11) in a triangular meet at Rantoul.
