Athletes show strong effort at annual Mooseheart Relays
After many days of middling weather, blue skies and warm temperatures greeted the 40th Annual Mooseheart Relays, which took place May 2 at Mooseheart's football stadium.
The host Ramblers took advantage of their annual opportunity to show their home fans how proficient in the sport they have become, and this year's meet was no exception. The boys team, which has been an area power recently, had a strong showing while the girls team continued to show the improvement that has been taking place in recent seasons.
"It was nice to have warm weather," Mooseheart boys track coach Curt Schlinkmann said. "I think they did a really nice job. I was really pleased."
Mooseheart's boys won five events. Ceda Makindu cleared 6-0 to win the high jump, Joe Feemorlu was first in the 110-meter high hurdles, Josh Gordon won the 400 meters and the Ramblers 400-meter relay and 1,600-meter relay teams were winners.
"I think, for the most part, they did their personal bests, which is what you ask for," Schlinkmann said. "I think we kind of took some steps today. We're finding ourselves. We've been looking for someone to add to the (1,600-meter) relay, and now Abdul (Yusuf-Omane) is running it, and that fills that vacancy."
Mooseheart's boys have been most successful in recent years, including a seventh-place finish in the 2014 Class 1A state meet. The postseason doesn't begin for another two weeks, but Schlinkmann said he liked the direction his team is headed.
"Some of the guys were there last year and they know what it's like and they want to go back again. Those guys are inspiring some of the guys to want to go with them," Schlinkmann said.
Mooseheart's girls team had its best performance from Aishah Adebayo, who was second in the 100-meter hurdles. Among Ramblers who finished third were Mamie Barley in the discus, Megan Hart in the triple jump and Madison Hart in the 400 meters.
"Most of the girls had their personal bests today," Mooseheart girls track coach Ann Price said. "I know some of the girls have been affected by the heat. It's been a cold track season."
The high school girls track season finishes one week before the boys, so the Ramblers are on the brink of their postseason meets.
"Last season, we saw that they got better when the Mooseheart Relays came," Price said. "We are looking forward to some big performances."
Mooseheart's girls team has not had a state qualifier since Ruthfee Kollie qualified in the triple jump in 2006. Price said athletes on the current team may qualify before they leave high school. Adebayo and Barley are sophomores and Megan Hart is a freshman. There are others, Price said, who have the potential to become state qualifiers.
"(Adebayo) was talented again last year and she'll deliver again this year," Price said. "She may not make it to state this year, but we're hopeful she can make it next year. And we have some freshmen who came out of nowhere, including Megan (Hart.) In another year, we could be competitive."
40 Annual Mooseheart Relays
Girls Results (Top 3 and Mooseheart placewinners)
Shot put: Ariel Shoemaker, Luther North, 40-2; Cassidy Murphy, Ottawa Marquette, 32-7; Chaney Paris, Aurora Christian, 27-10. Discus: Ariel Shoemaker, Luther North, 117-1-1/4; Frances Sagerian, Rosary, 91-9; Mamie Barley, Mooseheart, 83-1. Long jump: Mary Kate Bakala, Rosary, 14-6; Kayla Armstrong, Luther North, 14-4-1/2; Sam Hoffman, Aurora Christian, 14-0-1/2. High jump: Molly McCarthy, St. Francis, 5-0; Kylee Knox, Harvest Christian, 4-8; Natasha Bernett, Luther North, 4-8. Triple jump: Ysabelle Aquinho, St. Francis, 29-9-1/2; Morgan England, St. Francis, 29-4-1/2; Megan Hart, Mooseheart, 29-2. 100 hurdles: Kylee Knox, Harvest Christian, 16.96; Aisha Adebayo, Mooseheart, 17.26; Alana Santos, Luther North, 17.46. 100 Meters: Kaitlyn Pearson, Elgin Academy, 12.20; Jada Williams, Luther North, 12.34; Natasha Brown, Aurora Christian, 12.45. 3200 Relay: Aurora Christian, 10:46.21; St. Francis, 10:52.09; Harvest Christian, 11.34.25; 5. Mooseheart, 11:45.21. 400 Relay: Luther North, 50.09; Aurora Christian, 50.69; St. Francis, 51.84; 5. Mooseheart, 56.06. 800 Meters: Madison Ronzone, Rosary, 2:18.97; Valarie Richter, Harvest Christian, 2:25.53; Becca Wert, Aurora Christian, 2:29.91. 800 Relay: Luther North, 1:44.94; Aurora Christian, 1:48.47; St. Francis, 1:49.50; 5. Mooseheart, 2:02.18. 400 Meters: Emily Martin, Rosary, 1:01.34; Kayla Armstrong, Luther North, 1:03.59; Madison Hart, 1:08.41. 1600 Meters: Isabella Wolke, Christian Liberty, 5:22.53; Nygia Pollard, Harvest Christian, 5:40.00; Megan Kremer, St. Francis, 5:44.22. 200 meters: Kaitlyn Pearson, Elgin Academy, 25.56; Natasha Brown, Aurora Christian, 25.84; Bella Uscila, St. Edward, 26.43. 1600 Relay: Luther North, 4:21.50; St. Francis, 4:22.84; Aurora Christian, 4:29.62.
Boys Results (Top 3 and Mooseheart placewinners)
Shot put: John MacBean, Ottawa Marquette, 44-5; Allen Obazee, Luther North, 43-0; Zach Williams, Aurora Christian, 40-9; 6. John Turton, Mooseheart, 34-10. Discus: John MacBean, Ottawa Marquette, 154-0; John Turton, Mooseheart, 118-4; Allen Obazee, Luther North, 118-2. Long jump: Josh Johnson, Alden-Hebron, 18-5; Nick Kurtyka, St. Francis, 17-8; Ceda Makindu, Mooseheart, 17-6-1/2; Zach Urwiler, Mooseheart, 17-1-1/2. High jump: Ceda Makindu, Mooseheart, 6-0; Brett Cramer, Harvest Christian, 5-10; Josh Gordon, Mooseheart, 5-10. Triple jump: Adam Izewski, St. Francis, 42-4; John Johnson, Alden-Hebron, 38-10; Gus Abdulahi, Mooseheart, 37-7. 110 Hurdles: Joe Feemorlu, Mooseheart, 15.96; Jacob Goddard, St. Francis, 16.86; Hameed Odunewu, Mooseheart, 16.96. 100 Meters: Jeff Duke, St. Francis, 11.11; Adam Izewski, St. Francis, 11.36; Carlton Anderson, Mooseheart, 11.42; Josh Tucker, Mooseheart, 11.49. 3200 Relay: St. Francis, 8:48.94; Harvest Christian, 9:26.94; Mooseheart, 9:57.44. 400 Relay: Mooseheart, 45.06; St. Francis, 45.41; St. Edward, 47.31. 800 Meters: Cory Bugelholl, Ottawa Marquette, 2:14.06; Andrew Dobrescu, Harvest Christian, 2:15.97; Thom Lechtenberg, Ottawa Marquette, 2:17.68; Jeff Leigh, Mooseheart, 2:20.25. 800 Relay: St. Francis, 1:35.91; Mooseheart, 1:36.56; St. Edward, 1:41.41. 400 Meters: Josh Gordon, 51.22; Dorian Frederick, Harvest Christian, 53.41; Joseph Hoffmann, Luther North, 53.68. 1600 Meters: David Keifer, St. Francis, 4:45.12; Cory Bugelholl, Ottawa Marquette, 4:51.28; Thom Lechtenberg, Ottawa Marquette, 4:51.68. 200 Meters: Alec Uscila, St. Edward, 23.41; Joseph Hoffman, Luther North, 23.66; Albert Lopez, St. Edward, 23.90; 5. Josh Tucker, Mooseheart, 24.12; 6. Carlton Anderson, Mooseheart, 24.56. 1600 Relay: Mooseheart, 3:33.47; St. Francis, 3:38.00; Harvest Christian, 4:00.66.