As competition rises, Trenton track drops to “middle of the pack” finishes at Benton

The Trenton Lady Bulldogs continue to be strong in field events, but struggled to find top finishes in sprints, while the Trenton boys, going head-to-head with some of the elite big school talent in northwest Missouri, finished in sixth place, at Tuesday afternoon’s Benton Cardinal Relays in St. Joseph.

While neither Trenton team found a first-place finish, the Lady Bulldogs, in amassing 45 points (good for fifth place), had a runner-up finish from Ally Ockenfels in shot put, and a second place tie for Mason Hooyman in pole vault.  Salem Croy was third in the discus toss, while the 4 by 400 relay team, made up of Thelma Guerrero, Shayla Woodside, Mason Hooyman, and Tenna Roberts finished in third place.  The 4 by 100 and 4 by 800 meter relays were both 4th for THS, while Woodside was fourth in the long jump.

The Lenexa girls brought an outstanding team to Benton on Tuesday, winning the Cardinal Relays for 164 points.  Chillicothe finished second with 120 points.  Individual winners for the Lady Hornets were Molly Jones in the pole vault, Whitney Clampitt in the 800 meter run, and Jaime Albertson in the 100 meter hurdles.

For the Trenton boys, the relay team finished 3rd in the 4 by 200, fourth in the 4 by 100, and fourth in the 4 by 400.  Running all three races for THS were Travis Leeper, Wyatt Whittle, Jonathan Lamp, and Trey Shields.

Austin Burkeybile had the Bulldogs best individual finish, third place in the long jump.  Jadan Whitney was fourth in the discus, Avery Cooksey fourth in the high jump, and Daniel Rodriguez fourth in the 3,200 meter run.

Chillicothe’s 125 points claimed the boy’s title at the Cardinal Relays, followed by runner-up Lenexa’s 108.  Individual area champions included Cameron’s Levi Marlay in the shot put, Chillicothe’s Kyle Ross in the pole vault, Jesse Miller of Chillicothe in the high jump and triple jump, Layne Worman of Chillicothe in the 1,600 and 3,200, and Brett Shaffer of Chillicothe in the 300 meter hurdles.

Relays were won by the Benton boys (4 by 100), Maryville boys (4 by 200), and Lenexa boys (4 by 400 and 4 by 800).  

Next on the schedule for Trenton and Chillicothe track is the Class 3, district 8 meet, Saturday morning, starting at 10 o’clock at Chillicothe High School’s Jerry Litton Memorial Stadium.