Taylor and Oakwood Relay Team Shine in Season-Opening Track Meet at Hoopeston Area

By Fred Kroner

Nikita Taylor placed second in two individual events and one Oakwood relay finished in the runner-up position on Monday (March 25) as the Comets opened the outdoor season in a six-school meet at Hoopeston Area.

Taylor was second in the 200 meters (29.25 seconds) and the long jump (15 feet, 8 inches).

The relay foursome of Taylor Smoot, Luci Morris, Leanne Snow and Aubri Elliott ran second in the 400-meter event (57.84 seconds).

Macie Kinney took third in the 1,600 meters (7:59.49) and Elliott captured third in the 300-meter hurdles (57.03 seconds).

The Comets’ 800-meter relay also ran third. Sharing the baton were Smoot, Morris, Snow and Taylor. Their time was 2:03.45.

The team’s other individual standouts included Smoot (fourth in the 400 meters in 1:19.16), Snow (sixth in the 100 meters in 15.73 and sixth in the 200 meters in 32.58 seconds), Mady Nicoson (fourth in the shot put at 25 feet, 3 inches) and Quinn Sperry (sixth in the shot put at 24 feet, 1 inch and sixth in the discus at 75 feet, 7 inches).

Oakwood’s 1,600-meter relay also wound up in third place. The runners were Amber Betzwiser, Breanna Bolser, Kinney and Rylee Wright. Their time was 6:02.12.

Team honors were captured by Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin (179 points), followed by Westville (104 points), Hoopeston Area (72 points) and Oakwood (62 points).

The Comets will return to action on Thursday (March 28) in a five-team meet at Tuscola.