SALINA — Chris Burley soared to unprecedented heights for Great Bend High School on Friday afternoon at the Salina Central Invitational.
Burley cleared a personal best while setting the school record in winning the pole vault at 14 feet, six inches. His previous best was 14-0.
“He knew exactly what the school record was,” said Great Bend head track and field coach Bo Black of Burley, a junior. “He can say that he’s the very best, the greatest pole vaulter in the history of Great Bend High School.
“That’s quite an accomplishment and it couldn’t have been bestowed upon a better kid. He’s been trying to get to 14-6 the last three weeks. I’d say he’s got the opportunity to go up over 15 feet. Fifteen feet is definitely within reach.”
Great Bend finished in sixth place in the team standings in both divisions.
“I’m not going to sugarcoat it and tell everybody how great it was because it wasn’t very good,” Black said. “I thought our kids could have competed a little better.
“All in all, it was OK. It’s another step in getting ready for the WAC and regional meets.”
In the girls division, Great Bend’s Hannah Middleton cleared 9-6 for second place in the pole vault, and Hannah Wondra captured second place in the 400-meter dash (1:01.38) and fifth in the 800 (2:32.10).
“Selam Ball stayed home,” Black said. “She tweaked a muscle and she wants to be ready for WAC next (Thursday at Dodge City).”
Jacy Quade placed second in the discus (123-3) and third in the shot put (36-3¼). Sara McAfee took fourth in the high jump (4-10) and seventh in the triple jump (31-1).
Alex Eye cleared 4-10 in the high jump for fifth place; Mary Williams placed fourth in the 3,200 (13:03.57); Kaitlynn Tuey was a fifth-place finisher in both the 1,600 (6:00.56) and 3,200 (13:17.14).
In the boys division, the Panthers’ Matt Moyd was a third-place finisher in the 110-meter high hurdles (15.99) and placed fourth in the 100 (11.22).
Chon Chavez took third place in the 1,600 run (4:37.48) and fifth in the 3,200 (10:27.76). Jayce Brack placed fourth in the discus (133-¼) and seventh in the shot put (46-8¾), and Darion Yager placed fourth in the 300 intermediate hurdles (42.73).
 
 
PREP TRACK & FIELD
Salina Central Invitational

At Salina

Friday

GIRLS

Team Standings
1.  Manhattan, 167½; 2. Salina Central, 89; 3. Hays, 80½; 4. Junction City, 66; 5. Hutchinson, 62; 6. Great Bend, 54; 7. Salina South, 49; 8. Buhler, 34.

Great Bend results
400-meter dash — 2. Hannah Wondra, 1:01.08
800 — 5. Wondra, 2:32.10
1,600 — 5. Kaitlynn Tuey, 6:00.56
3,200 — 4. Mary Williams, 13:03.57; 5. Tuey, 13:17.14
Discus — 2. Jacy Quade, 123-3
Shot put — 3. Quade, 36-3¼
Pole vault — 2. Hannah Middleton, 9-6
High jump — 4. Sara McAfee, 4-10; 5. Alex Eye,  4-10
Triple jump — 7. McAfee, 31-1
4x100 relay — 7. (McAfee, Stephanie Langer, Ali Ryan, Wondra), 55.71
4x800 relay — 5. (Stein, Williams, Tuey, Wondra), 10:32.49

BOYS

Team Standings
1.  Hays, 182; 2. Manhattan, 81; 3. Sacred Heart 61; 4. Buhler, 57½; 5. Salina South, 45½; 6. Great Bend, 38; 7. Hutchinson, 36; 8. Salina Central, 24; 9. Junction City 18.

Great Bend results
110-meter high hurdles — 3. Matt Moyd, 15.99
300 intermediate hurdles — 4. Darion Yager, 42.73
100 dash — 4. Moyd, 11.22
1,600 run — 3. Chon Chavez, 4:37.48
3,200 — 5. Chavez, 10:27.76
Discus — 4 . Jayce Brack, 133-¼
Shot put — 7. Brack, 46-8¾
Pole vault — 1. Chris Burley 14-6*
4x800 relay — 4. (Kole Stiner, Greg Burley, Cristian Garcia, Chavez), 8:40.72
4x400 relay — 7. (Ty Yager, G. Burley, Garcia & D. Yager), 3:35.29

*GBHS school record