Owen track & field dashes into spring season

Warhorses win home opener, Warlassies finish second

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
March 10, 2024

Warhorses and Warlassies were off and running, March 7, as Owen track and field hosted its 2024 home opener against Mitchell and Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy.

The Warhorses collected their first team victory of the season, outlasting the Gryphons, 74.5 to 48.5, while the Warlassies finished second with 58 points, behind Thomas Jefferson (83). The Owen teams combined to outscore the Gryphons, 132.5 - 131.5.

The Warhorses claimed the top spot in nine of the 17 events in which they competed, as the team recorded 18 finishes in the top three. Senior Trevae Woodyard collected a pair of individual victories in 200 meter dash, with a time of 23.34, and a 40.24 showing in the 300 meter hurdles.

Junior Owen Lollis added to the gold medal total with a 53.24 in the 400 meter dash, while senior Abraham McTeague-Pospishil claimed the top spot in the 800 meter run, with a time of 2:13.00. Senior Kyle Tilstra’s 4:43.00 claimed first in the 1,600 meter run and junior Harding Kinnaird (10:10.00) finished the 3,200 meter run ahead of his teammate, Craig Webb (10:40.00).

Sophomore Jaiden Carlton posted another Owen victory in the long jump, with a 17-foot effort, ahead of sophomore Lucas Dash, as the Warhorse 4x200 meter relay team ran to victory.

In the field, Owen was boosted by junior Kalem Walton, who set the discus mark with a throw of 103-feet-4-inches.

The Warlassies, led by junior Ashley Currie, who claimed first place in the 100 meter dash with a time of 13.04 and first in the 200 meter dash in 27.14, posted seven top finishes in the meet. Fifteen Owen girls recorded top three performances in 16 events.

Senior Nevaeh Perkins took the top spot in the 800 meter run in 2:27.00, while sophomore Jordan Robertson’s 14:17.00 paced the 3,200 meter run. Freshman Adyson Draper claimed a victory in the 300 meter hurdles, with a time of 53.44, and junior Sierra Honeycutt cleared 4-feet-10-inches to take first in the high jump. Junior Lin Galloway tied for the top spot in the long jump, posting an attempt of 12-feet-7-inches.

The meet was the second of the season for Owen, which opened the campaign, March 1, at the Tony Waldrop Memorial in Polk County, where the Warhorses and Warlassies posted third place performances in the six-team event.

The reigning West Regional Champion Warhorses finished second in the state last season.

The Warhorses and Warlassies will compete in the AC Reynolds meet at 4 p.m., Tuesday, March 12, while Owen track and field will host its second home meet of the season, Tuesday, April 9.

Photos of Owen’s 2024 track and field home opener can be viewed in the gallery at the top of the page.

SportsFred McCormick