Ava Lady Bears Open Track Season at Lebanon

The Lady Bears started the track season off right with a nice showing at the Lebanon track meet on March 30.  Bringing home gold medals in 3 events, the Lady Bears were led by senior Payton Lakey who not only won the high jump but also the long jump.

Payton who has been focusing on spring basketball off-season for the last three years, was able to join the track team for the first time in her high school career. Payton jumped 4’8” on the high jump and 14’5” on the long jump.

Also taking an impressive first place was Christina Shortt, who won the 2-mile run.  Christina, who excelled in cross country was district champion this last fall, won the 2-mile race in a time of 14:20.

Other members of the Ava Lady Bears that placed at Lebanon were:

The 4×800 team of McKenna Hunsaker, Ashley Rieken, Emily Patton, and Christina Shortt which took 3rd place with a time of 12:06.

Callie Eubanks placed 7th in the open 100-meter dash.

The 4×200 team of Amanda Greene, Tailer Stofer, Courtney Mings and Callie Eubanks placed 5th with a time of 1:59.15.

The same girls also ran in the 4×100 and placed 5th there also with a time of 56.28.

McKenna Hunsaker ran in the open 400 and with a time of 1:13 placed 8th.

Ashley Rieken and Kendra McCleary ran the 2-mile with Christina and placed 4th and 5th respectively with times of 15:56 and 17:40.

In the 4×400 McKenna Hunsaker, Emily Patton, Amber Beverlin and Amanda Greene ran a 5:19 and placed 3rd.

In the long jump, along with Payton, Callie Eubanks placed 5th with a jump of 13’6” and Amanda Greene took 7th with a jump of 13’2”.

In the triple jump, Ashley Rieken jumped 25’2” for 5th place, Courtney Mings jumped 24’8” for 6th and McKenna Hunsaker jumped 22’10” for 8th place.

Other schools attending the meet were Waynesville, Camdenton, Macks Creek, Conway, Hartville and Lebanon.