By Staff
BENNINGTON – The Canton/Galva track/field team opened their 2023 season on the road Friday at the Bennington Invitational where the Eagle boys placed fifth and the Lady Eagles finished tenth within a 13 team field.
Next up for the Eagle tracksters will be on Tuesday, April 4 on the road at Remington.
“This was a great meet to start our season with decent weather and good competition,” noted Canton/Galva head track/field coach Tina McMannis. “We have several freshmen and new athletes this season who now know what to expect from high school competition and can come into the next meet even more prepared.”
The Canton/Galva boys placed fifth as a team with 36 points. Ell-Saline won the team title with Bennington, Clifton/Clyde and Rural Vista rounding out the top four.
For the Eagle boys, they were led by juniors Lane McMannis and Wyatt Collins. McMannis earned a pair of medals on the track with a first-place gold in the 400 meters (53.40) and second place silver in the 200 meters (23.92) while also getting fifth place in the field events with a javelin throw of 121’3”. Collins earned both of his medals in field events, placing second in the discus (123’2”), and third in the shot put (39’11”).
Also gaining team points was a fifth-place finish by the quartet of John Erskin, Nathanal Erskin, Caden Marley and Jayden Barnett in the 4×100 meter relay.
(Photo from Tina McMannis)
For the Lady Eagles, they placed tenth among the 13 teams in the point standings with 15. Remington won the team title with Clifton/Clyde, Bennington, Ell-Saline and Lincoln being the top five teams.
Four medals were earned by Lady Eagles on the day as senior Mimi Craig placed second in the shot put (30’9.5”) and fifth in the discus (81’7”), along with a pair of freshmen, Jordyn Elliot and Makinlee Hoppes getting two other medals. Elliot finished fourth in the 100 hurdles (18.88) and Hoppes placed sixth in the 300 hurdles (57.40).
Coach McMannis concluded her reflections on the meet and season ahead by adding, “Our upperclassmen (Mimi Craig, Wyatt Collins, and Lane McMannis) had a great start to the season with medal-winning performances and their eyes are set on qualifying for state at the end of the season. The Canton/Galva athletes have a busy week ahead as we go into our second meet already on Tuesday at Remington, then turn around two days later with most of the team going to the Lyons Invitational while a few Eagles will go to the Shocker Pre-State Classic in Wichita on Friday.”
Bennington Invitational, March 31, 2023
CANTON/GALVA LADY EAGLES:
Team Scoring: 1. Remington 151; 2. Clifton/Clyde 115; 3. Bennington 99; 4. Ell-Saline 40; 5. Lincoln 27; 6. Tescott 24; 7. Wakefield 23; 8. Rural Vista 22; 9. St. Johns 20; 10. LADY EAGLES 15; 11. Herington 7; 12. Rock Hills 7; 13. Wilson 3.
LADY EAGLE INDIVIDUAL RESULTS:
Shot Put > Mimi Craig – 2nd, 30’9.5”; Emma Herrera – 22’9”.
Discus > Mimi Craig – 5th, 81’7”.
Javelin > Makinlee Hoppes – 60’0”; Emma Herrera – 52’1”.
Long Jump > Trinity Espinoza – 13’5”.
100 Meters > Makinlee Hoppes – 14.97; Jordyn Elliot – 15.20.
200 Meters > Emily Lance – 32.87.
100 Hurdles > Jordyn Elliot – 4th, 18.88.
300 Hurdles > Makinlee Hoppes – 6th, 57.40; Emily Lance – 1:02.29.
CANTON/GALVA EAGLE BOYS:
Team Standings: 1. Ell-Saline 138; 2. Bennington 100; T-3. Clifton/Clyde & Rural Vista 50; 5. EAGLES 36; 6. Remington 33; 7. Herington 32; 8. St. Johns 31; 9. Tescott 29; 10. Wakefield 23; 11. Rock Hills 20; 12. Lincoln 12; 13. Wilson 3.
EAGLES INDIVIDUAL RESULTS:
Shot Put > Wyatt Collins – 3rd, 39’11”; Preston Minson – 33’.75”; Brayden O’Hara – 24’9.25”.
Discus > Wyatt Collins – 2nd, 123’2”; Preston Minson – 82’1”; Brayden O’Hara – 58’9”.
Javelin > Lane McMannis – 5th, 121’3”.
Long Jump > Jayden Barnett – 15’2”.
100 Meters > John Erskin – 12.86.
200 Meters > Lane McMannis – 2nd, 23.92; Nathanal Erskin – 26.49.
400 Meters > Lane McMannis – 1st, 53.40; Caden Marley – 58.70; Jayden Barnett – 1:03.96.
800 Meters > Caden Marley – 2:29.56.
4×100 Meter Relay > Eagles (John Erskin, Nathanal Erskin, Caden Marley, Jayden Barnett) – 5th, 48.70.
(The Staff covering events for the MAC AREA SPORTS NEW can be reached by email at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)