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Panther boys track wins silver at Salina Central, girls place sixth
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Complete team results

SALINA— A 19-point spread separated runner up Great Bend (89) from top finisher Manahattan (108) in boys competition at Friday’s Salina Central Invitational. Hutchinson and Junction City completed the bottom half of top four finishers with 82 and 55 points respectively.  

In the girls division, the Panthers (45.5) finished three and a half points ahead of Junction City (42) for sixth place in the final standings. Manhattan also won the girls crown with 115 points.

“We had a good day at this meet scoring in a lot of events,” coach Todd Kaiser said. “We had some good finishes with a number of our kids turning in season and career best performances.”

In boys competition, Ty Yager won the 300 intermediate hurdles in a time of 42.27. Kerby Depenbusch was the top finisher in the 3200 meter run clocking in at 10:05.56. He also medaled in the 1600 meter winning bronze at 4:36.60. Jeffery Muiruri (5th) ran a career best time of 16.23 in the 110m high hurdles.  Cal Marshall (5th) turned in a career best performance in the 400 meter in a time of 52.87.  In the 800 meter, Eric Vazquez (6th) ran a season best time of 2:07.49 and a career best time in the 1600 meter (6th) of 4:47.68.  Quinton Elliott (5th) ran the 3200 meter for the first time this season turning in a time of 10:42.63 while Earving Morales (7th) turned in a season best time of 10:57.74 in the 3200m.

In the field, Jayce Brack had meet-best throws of 54.4 and 171.4 ft. in the shot and discus. His discus performance was also a career high. Justin Denney also turned in a career best throw of 135.11 ft. in the javelin. In the pole vault, Thomas Bobbitt (6th) had a career best vault of 12 ft.

In the relay events, Eric Vasquez, Mason YellowWolf, Quiton Elliot and Isaiah Davis placed second in the 4x800 with a season best time of 8:27.55.

In the girls division, Great Bend placed second in the 4x800 relay as Mariah Stein, Baleigh Fry, Macy Moyers and Kaylan Lagerman timed in with a season best 10:09.06.  Camryn Dunekack, Fry, Moyers and Lagerman ran a season best in the 4x400 (5th) in a time of 4:17.12.

In individual girls’ running events, Dunekack and Mary Williams each placed third in the 400 meter and 3200 meter races. Dunekack finished at 1:01.54 in the 400 while Williams turned in a time of 12:37.30 in the 3200.

Kate Warren placed third in the discus with a career best throw of 116.7 ft. Carley Brack (5th) posted a career best throw in the shot put at 34.9 ft.

Makayla Johnson (7th) turned in a season best time of 16.99 in the 100 meter hurdles.

“At this point in the season we need to be performing at our best,” said Kaiser. “It’s obvious with the season and career best performances the kids have been turning in the last couple of meets they are performing at their best. I’m really proud of how hard these kids have been working all season and it’s starting to pay off for them with their great performances,” he said.

Next stop for the Panther boys and girls teams is Dodge City at the WAC Championships. This year’s conference meet takes place Thursday, May 14.