BY
JIM MISUNAS
WICHITA – Hoisington High’s Xavier Robinson earned a shiny gold medal Saturday
to sit next to his silver medal at the 3A state track championship.
Robinson matched his expectations with a gold medal in Saturday’s 3A long jump (21-21/4).
“I wasn’t surprised until I got up there and realized it was real,” Robinson said. “I’d waited a long time to stand at the top. Walking off, I was surprised I made it there.”
Robinson had earned a pair of runner-up finishes to go with a third-place state medal
“I was hoping to win because I got second last year,” Robinson said. “Coming in I was third by a inch-and-half. The long jump was delayed a day by weather, which Robinson used to his advantage.
“I figured I’d pull past some of those guys I was close to,” Robinson said. “It wasn’t a disadvantage.”
His weight training paid off when jumpers soared into a light prevailing wind.
“We jumped into the wind, but my weight training really helped,” he said.
Robinson was the happiest runner-up in the state Friday. He bettered his goal by soaring 44-01/4 in Friday’s boys 3A triple jump at the state track championship.
Robinson enjoyed two strong jumps on the four jumps allowed in the rain-shortened event. Typically, jumpers would be allowed six attempts.
Robinson said jumping conditions were good with a light southerly wind helping the jumpers.
“I felt good today. The runway felt fast and I jumped 44-feet, which is close to my best,” Robinson said. “I was looking to win first. But my goal was jump better than 43-6. If I jumped better than 43-6, it was a great day.”
Santa Fe Trail’s Logan Reed finished first (44-81/2) in the triple jump. Larned’s Brock Skelton finished fifth (43-0).
Hoisington’s Maleigha Schmidt cleared 10-6 to place third. Schmidt enjoyed several quality jumps, including her final attempt at 11-0.
Ellinwood’s Erin Hammeke earned a spot on the medal stand with a fifth-place finish (12:28.59)
FRIDAY’S
AREA FINALS
3A B TRIPLE JUMP—2—Xavier Robinson, Hoisington, 44-81/2; 5—Brock Skelton, Larned, 43-0
3A G POLE VAULT—3—Maleigha Schmidt, 11-0
2A G 3,200—5—Erin Hammeke, Ellinwood, 12:28.59
1A G LONG JUMP—7—Jaden Carlson, Pawnee Heights, 16-23/4
1A B 3,200—12—Cole Lamatsch, Central Plains; 14—Cayden Brozek, Stafford, 10:53.78
1AG 100 hurdles prelims—9—Bailey Sanders, Hoisington, 16.15; 9—Samantha Colson, Hoisington, 16.51
