Wildcats off and running in 2021 track season

Washington junior Markayla Bowens burst out of the blocks in the girls 4×100-meter relay. Washington won the event with a time of 58.12 sec. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

Washington High School held the Wyandotte Relays track meet on Friday afternoon. The event included athletes from Bishop Ward, Harmon, Turner, Schlagle, Sumner and Wyandotte high schools from Kansas City, Kansas, along with Northeast and Southeast high schools from Kansas City, Missouri.

In the boys’ team competition, Washington took the team trophy with 119 points, followed by Bishop Ward with 103 and Wyandotte with 80. Washington’s girls’ team took top honors also, with 74 points. Northeast took second place with 73 points, and Sumner took home third with 66.

Turner dominated the distance events, winning the boys 800, 1600 and 3200 meters and the girls 800 and 1600 meters.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, spectators were not allowed inside the stadium, but devoted fans lined the fences along Leavenworth Road and the school parking lot.

The meet kicked off the spring 2021 track season, which will culminate in the state championships in Wichita, May 27 to 29.

Washington freshman Kamea Robertson jumped in the long jump. Robertson finished in 6th with a jump of 13 feet, 6 inches. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner Academy junior JaNae McKelvy ran in the 300-meter hurdles. Mckelvy won the event with a time of 53.04 sec. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Wyandotte senior Malike Calhoun jumped in the long jump. Calhoun finished 3rd in the event with a distance of 18 feet, 10 inches. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Bishop Ward won the boys 4×100 relay with a time of 48.52 sec. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Turner sophomore Arianna Ortiz crossed the finish line in the 800-meter run, trailed by teammate senior Cyra Chronister, who had won the 1600-meter run earlier. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Washington junior Jason Black ran the 100-meter dash. Black won the event with a time of 11.84 sec. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Turner junior David Taylor crossed the finish line in the 800-meter run. Taylor won the event with a time of 2 min. 17.85 sec. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Schlagle’s Brandon Lopez crossed the finish line in heat 1 of the 400-meter dash. Lopez finished 2nd with a time of 57.70 sec. He was edged out by Washington’s Justin Rolland, who posted a time of 56.59 sec. in heat 2. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner senior Ashley Robinson jumped in the long jump. Robinson finished 2nd with a jump of 14 feet, 4 inches. She was outjumped by 1 inch by Southeast’s Maizen Williams. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)