HUXLEY — While the team points may have been sufficient only to place Perry seventh in an eight-team field at the Ballard Invitational Friday, the results of several events revealed that the Jayettes are heading in the right direction.
Perry senior Leah Reuter had a pair of personal-best efforts, with junior Taylor Lathrum also setting a new personal mark. In addition, two relays — the 4×200 and sprint medley — posted season-best times.
Freshman Grace Stewart was second in the 1500 in 5 minutes, 38.44 seconds and third in the 3000 in 12:02.52, with Reuter fifth in both, in 5:46.34 and 12:22.13, respectively. Reuter’s clockings were both new personal-best efforts.
Lathrum set a new mark for herself in the shot put after placing third with a heave of 33 feet, 1-1.4 inches.
The foursome of Maggie Lowe, Haileigh Kenyon, Johanna Diw and Emma Olejniczak were third in the sprint medley in 2:03.57, with Lowe, Olejniczak, Diw and Sidney Vancil fifth in the 4×200 in 1:59.75. Both times were season-low efforts for Perry.
Vancil, Lowe, Kenyon and Olejniczak finished second in the 4×800 in 10:52.06, with Vancil, Kenyon, Diw and Breanna Penenger sixth in the 4×400 in 4:37.61 while Penenger, Lathrum, Amy Marckres and Alejandra Rivera placed sixth in the distance medley in 4:58.43.
Perry will compete in the North Polk Co-ed Relays Tuesday before returning to Huxley May 9 for the Raccoon River Conference meet.
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BALLARD GIRLS INVITATIONAL
at Huxley, May 1
Team Standings — 1. Gilbert, 149; 2. Balalrd, 102; 3. South Tama, 84; 4. Des Moines Lincoln, 68; 5. Southeast Valley, 63; 6. Iowa Falls-Alden, 61; 7. Perry, 40; 8. Des Moines Hoover, 20.
Individual Results (Perry placers only)
SHOT PUT – 3. Lathrum, 33’1-1/4.
3000 RUN – 3. Stewart, 12:02.52; 5. Reuter, 12:22.13.
4×800 – 2. PRY (Vancil, Lowe, Kenyon, Olejniczak), 10:52.06.
DISTANCE MEDLEY – 6. PRY (Rivera, Marckres, Lathrum, Penenger), 4:58.43.
4×200 – 5. PRY (Lowe, Olejniczak, Vancil, Diw), 1:59.75.
SPRINT MEDLEY – 3. PRY (Lowe, Kenyon, Diw, Olejniczak), 2:03.57.
1500 — 2. Stewart, 5:38.44; 5. Reuter, 5:46.34.
4×400 – 6. PRY (Vancil, Penenger, Kenyon, Diw), 4:37.61.
