Tiger track takes 3 events

PITTSBURG -- With the Independence meet rained out Friday, Fort Scott High School track coaches Don Epps and Tracey Bogina took a few of their athletes to the Pittsburg State University high school meet and came away with six medals.

The Gorilla Relays included schools from Oklahoma and Missouri, some from Wichita, Springfield and suburban Tulsa and from as large as Class 6A to as small as MIssouri Class 1. Some events had over 30 entrants.

Griffin Knopp was the only Tiger boy to compete and won the high jump by clearing 6 feet, 2 inches. Anthony Fobbs of Broken Arrow, Okla., was the runner-up after a three-way tie-breaker with Michael Hopfinger of Lee's Summit, Mo., and Dexter Hayes of Wichita Southeast at 6 feet even.

Mallory Shelton won girls' high jump as she was the only competitor to clear 5 feet. Darian Rubow of Chanute was the runner up at 4' 10".

Those heights were lower than usual, perhaps due to the weather.

Megan McDermed was the winner in girls' javelin with a throw of 119' 8". She was the only entrant to clear 95 feet.

Paige Denton won two medals in distance races. She took fifth in the 1,600 meters in 5 minutes, 45.11 seconds. Four of the top five times, including Denton's, were turned in by sophomores with Jessica Jackson of Neosho winning in 5:10.68. Denton was sixth in the 3,200 in 12:41.41. Bridgette Caruthers, a sophomore from Branson, Mo., won that race in 11:55.86.

Shelton won a second medal in triple jump as she went 31' 5 1/2". Katren Rienbolt was also entered and finished eighth out of 17 at 30' 6". Hailey Roderique of Webb City, Mo., was the winner at 33' 10". Reinbolt also entered long jump and finished tied for 13th at 14' 2".

The Tigers will take part in the Columbus Invitational this afternoon, weather permitting. This year's Fort Scott Relays will be held this Thursday due to the Good Friday holiday. The first event at Columbus is scheduled to begin at 1:30 while the Fort Scott meet is slated for a 4 o'clock start.

GIRLS

Team scores

None kept

Medalists

1,600-meter run: 1. Jackson, Neosho, 5:10.62; 5. Denton, Fort Scott, 5:45.11.

3,200-meter run: 1. Caruthers, Branson, 11:55.86; 6. Denton, Fort Scott, 12:41.41.

High jump: 1. Shelton, Fort Scott, 5' 0"; 2. Rubow, Chanute, 4' 10".

Triple jump: 1. Roderique, Webb City, 33' 10"; 5. Shelton, Fort Scott, 31' 5' 1/2".

Javelin: 1. McDermed, Fort Scott, 119' 8"; 2. Cure, Baxter Springs, 94' 7".

BOYS

Team scores

None kept

Medalists

High jump: 1. Knopp, Fort Scott, 6' 2"; 2. Fobbs, Broken Arrow, 6' 0".