NKC junior wins girls triple jump; other track notes

1 of 2

PHOTOS BY R.J. ORIEZ | Special to The Kansas City Star

Northland athletes were in the spotlight last weekend at the state meet in Jefferson City, including Staley’s Kristen Brosnan (above) in the 3,200 run, Staley’s Michael Danner (top left) in the 4 x 400 relay, Kearney’s Ariel Dunn (bottom left) in the 4 x 400 relay, and Liberty’s C.T. Smith (right) in the 3,200 run.

more girls track and field...

• The Star’s All-Metro girls’ track and field team
• The Star’s selection process
• All-Metro girls track athlete of the year: Breeana Coleman
• Olathe East girls relish Kansas 6A track and field team title
• Raytown South athlete endures a second disappointment; other track notes

you might also like...

• Northland athletes excel at track and field state meet
• Area jumpers sparkle in Missouri Class 3 and 4 state track meet
• Olathe East girls relish Kansas 6A track and field team title
• Lee’s Summit West boys fall short of Class 4 track title
• Eastern Jackson County area athletes excel at state meet

A second-place finish last Friday was the only motivation North Kansas City junior Morgan Reid needed to bring home a championship on Saturday at the Missouri Class 4 girls triple jump event in Jefferson City.

On Friday at Dwight T. Reed Stadium, Reid was not thrilled about her performance in the long jump event, in which she placed second with a leap of 18 feet, ½ inch.

“(Friday) made me focus,” Reid said. “I hate losing a lot.”

So Reid made sure she wouldn’t feel the agony of defeat in the triple jump and won with a leap of 39 feet.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” Reid said of her victory. “The second place did, but this hasn’t.”

“I didn’t have an aim. I just wanted to go as hard as I can. Go crazy.”

Ex-rival inspired himPark Hill South senior Cory Beenken can thank a former opponent for his Missouri Class 4 boys 300-meter hurdles state championship.

Beenken, a long-limbed athlete, only took up hurdling two years ago simply to score points for the team. Back then, he was plowing through the 110 high hurdles with awful times in the 19-second range and had no aspirations in becoming the state’s best. However, he turned to track coach Earl McDonald, the father of former Park Hill standout Andre’ McDonald.

Although Park Hill and Park Hill South are arch rivals, Beenken said the training under McDonald and studying Andre’ as inspiration helped turn him into a state champion. On Saturday, Beenken won the 300 hurdles in 38.06 seconds.

“I always wanted to beat (Andre’),” Beenken said.

Beenken also finished third in the 110s (14.46), but he described his gold-medal winning performance later in the afternoon as his career highlight.

“It’s the greatest feeling coming down the stretch,” Beenken said. “I had no one in front of me. Everything I worked for, it’s worth it.”

Long jump to dinnerPark Hill sophomore Trace Norfleet’s coaches and parents better get their credit cards ready.

On Saturday, Norfleet won the Missouri Class 4 state championship in the boys long jump and also set his personal record of 23 feet, 3¼ inches. With the achievement comes free food.

“My coaches said they’ll take me out to dinner,” Norfleet said, smiling. “And my dad said 23-3 would get me and three friends dinner.”

And he doesn’t want McDonald’s either. Norfleet was thinking big, like maybe sushi on the Plaza.

“I’m going to order everything I want off the menu,” he joked.

Comments - leave comment