Pintos finish third at Linn Invitational

The California High School varsity track team competed at the Linn Invitational April 7, where the Pintos finished in third place.

A total of 20 teams competed at the meet.

Blair Oaks won the boys' division with 117 points, followed by Eldon with 103.5, and California with 101.

"I was extremely happy with our team effort on the boys' side," California Coach Rick Edwards said. "We scored in every aspect of the meet."

The California girls finished in 10th place with 39 points.

Eldon won the girls' division with 156 points. St. James finished in second place with 81, Blair Oaks third with 72, and Russellville placed fourth with 48.

Individual results for the California boys are as follows: 100 Meter, Walker Borghardt, fifth place, 11.7; 200 Meter, Borghardt, fifth, 24.42; 300 Meter Hurdles, Dylan Norton, second, 43.1; 400 Meter, Conner George, third, 54.8, and Dylan Albertson, fifth, 55.4;  

"Conner George came out hard in the 400," Edwards said. "We had two new track kids running the 400 and they both pointed. Our 4x400 ran well and Dylan Norton had a very good race in the 300 hurdles."

In the 800 Meter, Binigno Corona placed third with 2:16, and Ethan Hodges, sixth, 2:18. In the 4x100 Meter Relay, the team of Seth Fairchild, AJ Kendrick, Rudy Wirts and Phillip Strobel placed eighth with 49; 4x400 Meter Relay, Albertson, Norton, George and Corona, third, 3:43; Triple Jump, Borghardt, first, 39'11", and Gunner Baquet, fifth, 37'4"; Long Jump, Borghardt, first, 19'4", and Kendrick, fourth, 18'8".

"Our jumpers performed well," Edwards said. "Walker won both jumps and AJ and Gunner Baquet both scored, which is big."

In the Pole Vault, Luke Burger placed seventh with 11'. Alexx Lewis placed second in the Discus Throw with 137'8", and Ramiro Garcia, fourth, 129'3"; Shot Put, Nathan Squires, first, 51'11", and Garcia, fourth, 41'8".

"Our throwers scored a ton of points," Edwards said. "You could see it coming. We have some throwers who are explosive; they lift hard, and are very well-coached." 

Individual results for the California girls are as follows: 100 Meter, Ellie Wirts, sixth place, 19.9; 200 Meter, Wirts, first, 28.5; 300 Meter Hurdles, Jasmine Wells, fourth, 52.3, and Kayla Allison, sixth, 53.1; 4x100 Meter Relay, team of Mattea Adams, Jackie Gammon, Hailey Admire and Rosie Swillum, seventh place, 60.3; 4X400 Meter Relay, team of Allison, Laney Porter, Wells and Swillum, seventh, 4:53; Triple Jump, Wirts, fifth, 28'10"; Shot Put, Audry Pickering, second, 32'5", and Beth Davis, eighth, 27'11"; and Pole Vault, Allison, seventh place, 7'6".   

"On the girls' side, our freshmen scored 90% of the points," Edwards said. "Ellie Wirts had a very good day placing in the 100, the triple, and winning the 200. Audrey Pickering had a good throw at over 32', and Kayla Allison ran a very good first race in the 300 hurdles. Beth Davis has been a solid thrower for us over the past few years and placed in the shot. Two relays pointed and Jasmine Wells placed fourth in the hurdles. She can run much faster with some more work." 

The CHS track team competed at the Versailles Invitational Thursday, where the Pintos finished in first place, while the Lady Pintos placed fifth. A total of 13 teams competed at the event.

"I'm extremely pleased with the way our kids competed," Edwards said. "This was the third meet of the week for our freshmen and sophomores and their legs were tired. They got out there and competed and I was proud of them for that. In both the boys' and girls' divisions, we have a good group of freshmen who are performing well. We need to get a little more confidence in them, but I'm pleased with their efforts."

The California boys won with 133, followed by South Callaway with 125, Versailles with 114, and Clinton with 72.

Individual results for the Pintos are as follows: In the 100 Meter, Walkter Borghardt finished in sixth place with 11.79; 110 Meter Hurdles, Logan Cox, sixth, 20.11; 200 Meter, Borghardt, fifth, 24.25; 300 Meter Hurdles, Dylan Norton, first, 42.84, and Gunner Baquet, fifth, 47.63; 400 Meter, Dylan Alberson, second, 53.97, and Conner George, fourth, 55.07; 800 Meter, Ethan Hodges, fourth, 2:14; and 1600 Meter, Adam Burkett, third, 5:02.

In the 4x100 Meter Relay, the team of Seth Fairchild, Sam Cummings, Phil Strobel and AJ Kendrick placed eighth with 49.29; 4x200 Meter Relay, team of Fairchild, Cummings, Strobel and Chris Menchaca, sixth, 1:41; 4x800 Meter Relay, team of Burkett, Simon Schroeter,n Hodges and Mason Albertson, fifth, 9:51.

In the High Jump, Allan Burger placed fifth with 5'10", and Cummings, eighth, 5'6"; Long Jump, Borghardt, second, 10'6", and Kendrick, fifth, 19'2"; Triple Jump, Borghardt, third, 41'8", and Baquet, seventh, 39'4"; Pole Vault, Luke Burger, second, 10'6", and Allan Burger, third, 10'; Shot Put, Nathan Squires, first, 49', and Ramiro Garcia, fourth, 41'9"; Discus Throw, Garcia, second, 130'10", and Alexx Lewis, third, 129'9".

"I'm happy with our team effort on the boys' side," Edwards said. "We're scoring in every part of the meet, which is exciting for the coaches. We have a solid team. Dylan Norton had a good meet, winning the 300 hurdles and anchoring the 4x400. He's an athlete who we are getting into more events because he is performing at a high level right now. Ramiro Garcia had a nice meet, getting personal bests in his events. Walker Borghardt jumped well. Allan burger pr'd in the high jump, clearing 5'10". Luke Burger and Allan Burger went 2-3 in the pole vault and are improving every day."

The California girls finished in fifth place with 50. Eldon won the girls' division with 148. South Callaway finished second with 147, followed by Clinton with 121 and Versailles with 56.20.

Individual results for the Lady Pintos are as follows: In the 100 Meter Hurdles, Rosie Swillum placed sixth with 19.19; 200 Meter, Ellie Wirts, seventh, 28.28; 300 Meter Hurdles, Jasmine Wells, second, 51.82, and Kayla Allison, fifth, 54.59; 800 Meter, Laney Porter, seventh, 2:53; and 1600 Meter, Porter, sixth, 6:25.

In the 4x100 Meter Relay, the team of Mattea Adams, Jackie Gammon, Haley Admire and Swillum placed eighth with 59.33; 4x400 Meter Relay, the team of Wells, Allison, Swillum and Porter placed fifth with 4:49.

In the High Jump, Adams placed eighth with 4'4"; Triple Jump, Wells, seventh, 30'5", and Wirts, eighth, 30'4"; Discus Throw, Cameron Meyer, fourth, 88'5", and Audrey Pickering, fifth, 85'10"; Shot Put, Pickering, second, 32'8"; and Pole Vault, Allison, sixth, 7'.

"On the girls' side, our hurdlers scored in three of four opportunities," Edwards said. "Kayla Allison scored in all three of her events and she ran three meets this week. Our two freshman throwers also pointed in their events with Pickering picking up a second place." 

Next for the CHS track team is the Boonville Invitational Thursday, April 17.