The Cherokee Trail boys and girls track teams set the tone for what could be another outstanding season with their performance at the Aurora City Championships on March 15.
The Cougars swept the boys and girls teams titles at the meet on the newly-minted track at Legacy Stadium, winning both competitions comfortably despite missing some of their best athletes.
The Cherokee Trail girls weren’t even at full strength, but managed to finish 68.5 points in front of Grandview. Even without Shayna Yon and Hannah Sparks, the Cougars piled up 180 points on the strength of three winning relays — the 4×100, 4×200 and 800 sprint medley — plus victories in the 100 meter hurdles by junior Amanda Andrews and senior Tiana Cephers in the triple jump.
The race for second and third came down to a half point, with the Wolves posting 111.5 points to Smoky Hill’s 111. Grandview had a trio of champions in Lettia Wilson (100 meters), Sylvana Ross (400 meters) and Nicole Mundy (300 meter hurdles).
Smoky Hill graduated a lot of talent on the girls side, but the Buffaloes had a strong start to the season at the city meet with five victories, including a sweep in the throwing events by senior Ann Mahnke. Senior Chloe Andrie won the 3,200 meter run and helped the 4×800 meter relay team to victory, while Melanie Vasina ruled the pole vault and Jamie Jezier won the 800.
Despite the graduation of 5A triple crown sprint champion Ana Holland, Regis Jesuit managed to finish fourth with junior Kellyn Toole winning the Raiders’ only title in the high jump. Sisters Alicia and Janine Taurchini claimed the 200 and 1,600-meter races, respectively, for fifth-place Eaglecrest.
The defending 5A state champion Cherokee Trail boys — competing without Oklahoma State-signee Brandon Singleton — won six events in all and had their typical performance in sweeping the 4×100, 4×200 and 4×400 relays.
Senior Evan White had a big day for the Cougars, as he won the 200 meter dash and ran on two of the three winning relay teams. Leighton LaFrombois (400 meters) and Isaiah Kaiser (300 hurdles) also won for Cherokee Trail.
Grandview scored plenty of points itself, with Triston Sisneros claiming both the 110 meter hurdles and the jump jump, Kossi Technawou racing to the 100 meter dash title. JR Smith (long jump) and CJ Strauch (discus) also took firsts for the Wolves.
Smoky Hill also finished third on the boys side, though not quite as close to second place as the girls. Junior Blake Yount — the Aurora city champion in cross country — won two distance track titles in taking the 800 and 1,600 meter runs and the Buffaloes also claimed the 4×800 meter relay.
The Regis Jesuit boys also claimed fourth as John O’Hagan’s 3,200-meter victory stood as its lone title, while shot putter Deyon Sizer took the only first place for fifth-place Eaglecrest.
Aurora Central’s Jake Henderson won the triple jump.
2014 AURORA CITY CHAMPIONSHIP TRACK MEET WINNERS
Boys city champions — 100 meters: Kossi Tchenawou (Grandview); 200 meters: Evan White (Cherokee Trail); 400 meters: Leighton LaFrombois (Cherokee Trail); 800 meters & 1,600 meters: Blake Yount (Smoky Hill); 3,200 meters: John O’Hagan (Regis Jesuit); 110 meter hurdles & high jump: Triston Sisneros (Grandview); 300 meter hurdles: Isaiah Kaiser (Cherokee Trail); 4×100 meter relay: Cherokee Trail (Mar’Keith Bailey, Jordan Strickland, Quincey Voss, Evan White); 4×200 meter relay: Cherokee Trail (Mar’Keith Bailey, Julian Sherrell, Jordan Strickland, Evan White); 4×400 meter relay: Cherokee Trail (Dominique Arnold, Jalen Farnsworth, Isaiah Kaiser, Julian Sherrell); 4×800 meter relay: Smoky Hill (Gemal Ali, Michael Anthony, Philipp Coen, Simon Geday); Pole vault: Jordan Hatfield (Regis Jesuit); Long jump: JR Smith (Grandview); Triple jump: Jake Henderson (Aurora Central); Shot put: Deyon Sizer (Eaglecrest); Discus: CJ Strauch (Grandview)
Girls city champions — 100 meters: Lettia Wilson (Grandview); 200 meters: Alicia Taurchini (Eaglecrest); 400 meters: Sylvana Ross (Grandview); 800 meters: Jamie Jezier (Smoky Hill); 1,600 meters: Janine Taurchini (Eaglecrest); 3,200 meters: Chloe Andrie (Smoky Hill); 100 meter hurdles: Amanda Andrews (Cherokee Trail); 300 meter hurdles: Nicole Mundy (Grandview); 4×100 meter relay: Cherokee Trail; 4×200 meter relay: Cherokee Trail (Aunyx Ashby, Haley Rogers, Jordan Rogers, Daisha Stanley); 4×400 meter relay: Rangeview (Alyssa Clayton Carra Jackson-Brown, Victoria Fanning, Tianna Cunningham); 4×800 meter relay: Smoky Hill (Chloe Andrie, Jamie Jezier, Svetlana Yeager, Brynell Yount); 800 sprint medley relay: Cherokee Trail (Tiana Cephers, Anastacia Johnson, Shyla Mars, Jordan Rogers); High jump: Kellyn Toole (Regis Jesuit); Pole vault: Melanie Vasina (Smoky Hill); Long jump: Lamija Spahic (Overland); Triple jump: Tiana Cephers (Cherokee Trail); Discus and shot put: Ann Mahnke (Smoky Hill)
