Lee’s Summit West boys fall short of Class 4 track title

Source: The Star

R.J. ORIEZ | Special to The Star

Raytown South’s Ashli Mosby cleared the last hurdle ahead of Lee’s Summit North’s Madison Smith and won the Class 4 100-meter hurdles.

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JEFFERSON CITY | The Lee’s Summit West boys track and field team knew a collective special performance would be necessary Saturday if it wanted to compete for the Class 4 state championship.

So, the previous night, before the ice baths and early bedtimes, the team gathered to talk about just that. Doing something above and beyond themselves for this challenge.

“We knew we would have to have a real special day to push Hazelwood East for the championship,” Lee’s Summit West coach Bob Klausing said. “And we came out (Saturday) from the very beginning … with the momentum.”

Propelled by senior Brooks Mosier’s win in the shot put, the Titans boys held first place in the team standings heading into the final race. However, since Hazelwood East won the 1,600-meter relay and the Titans did not have a relay team make state, Lee’s Summit West dropped to second with 64 points to Hazelwood East’s 68.

But Mosier was second to none for the third consecutive year.

Mosier has won the shot put since his sophomore season and found his senior-year victory at 60 feet, 1 3/4 inches to be most rewarding due to the competition.

“It was ridiculous this year,” Mosier said. “We had a crazy throwing year. … I’m just really happy — even if it wasn’t a state championship, I would’ve been happy because it’s a (personal record).”

•MOSBY WINS TWICE: Despite a season-long setback, Raytown South senior hurdler Ashli Mosby dominated her events in Class 4. Mosby won the 100- and 300-meter hurdles and also led off the Cardinals’ 400-meter relay team that finished second.

Throughout the spring, the Cardinals’ home track has been under construction, so the team had to find other ways to develop their skills. With that challenge, Mosby said she depended on her talent to carry her through.

“I’m happy, I’m very happy because we didn’t have a track and I didn’t get to practice on a track this whole season,” Mosby said. “(I thought) I might as well give it my all here. It’s my last year.”

Raytown South scored 39 points and tied LS West for fourth in Class 4 .

•McREYNOLDS HURDLES FEAR: Believe it or not, fear moves through Pembroke Hill junior Tiffani McReynolds’ body before she takes on the 300-meter hurdles. And it’s safe to assume that she even hates the event. And why?

“They hurt,” McReynolds explained, laughing. “I fear the pain. Oh gosh! It’s terrible.”

However, as much as McReynolds loathes the agony, she enjoys the end result. On Saturday, McReynolds added her third straight championship in the 100 hurdles and her second consecutive in the 300 hurdles. McReynolds now has five gold state medals, so clearly, her pain is temporary.

“I just look at the finish line,” McReynolds said. “I just mentally prepare myself that it’s only 45 seconds of my life. Forty-five seconds of pain. It feels good when it’s over.”

•DENSON FAMILY GETS GOLD: Ruskin senior Roland Denson won one for the family on Saturday.

Denson recalled how he grew up listening to stories by his mom and dad about their high school running careers. However, their nostalgic tales never end well because injuries crippled both parents’ senior seasons.

With that in mind, Denson said he was motivated to win the Class 3 400-meter dash and anchor the 800- and 1600-meter relays to gold medals as well.

“I’m trying not to cry,” Denson said. “Because my mommy and daddy ran track, but during their senior years, they blew their knees out.”

Denson, who also finished fourth in the 200, said he plans to give his medals to his parents, Tammy and Roland Sr.

“If it wasn’t for them,” Denson said, “I wouldn’t be here.”

Ruskin placed second overall in Class 3 with 41 points.

•KC ATHLETES PILE UP VICTORIES: Several Kansas City athletes paraded to the top of the medal stand.

Grandview junior high jumper James White (7-2), Park Hill sophomore long jumper Trace Norfleet (23-3 1/4 ), Park Hill South senior hurdler Cory Beenken (38.06 in the 300 hurdles) and the Center boys’ 400-meter relay team of senior Arrick Ridgell, junior Kenneth Roach, sophomore Deron Kirkwood and junior Anthony Hall III were all state champions.

For the girls, North Kansas City junior triple jumper Morgan Reid won in Class 4 with a leap of 39 feet.

submitted by CANDACE BUCKNER - 2009-05-30 21:35:02