Clarke girls run at SCC meet

CHARITON – Clarke track and field squared off against the rest of the South Central Conference Thursday, struggling to pull ahead of the bottom half of the conference in team points.

Clarke’s girls team put together a 46-point performance, placing sixth.

Girls track and field coach Kyle Eckermann said going into the meet, he felt his team had a good opportunity to pass a few teams in points scored.

“I thought we maybe could have possibly placed a couple spots higher than we did,” said Eckermann. “But still, I was happy with our performances on the year.”

The Clarke girls had strong outings from its 4x100 meter team of Payton Glasner, Hailee Fry, Ashlynn Oehlert and Sarah Davis. The four ran a combined time of 56.11, clocking in at third.

“That race is so bang-bang sometimes,” said Eckermann. “We focused on those more (relays) because we felt we could finish better there instead of some individual events.”

The Lady Indians had more success in relay races, placing fifth in the 4x400.

The group of Taylor Short, Glasner, Davis and Caitlin Clark were a full second behind fourth place Centerville, running a 4:51.58 for Clarke’s first 4x400 all season.

“We ran a 4x4 team for the first time all year, just hoping to get a couple of places,” said Eckermann.

Clarke’s distance med team also placed third due to disqualifications, said Eckermann.

Clarke had success in the field, finishing second and third in the shot put.

Tori White hurled the shot 31 feet, one-half inch and Kaitlyn Halsband threw it 30-6.

Caitlin Clark’s distance of 14-7 in the long jump was second best.