by Mark Cheffey
Five-time state champion Delaney Straus will highlight a 2022 Marion County R-II girls track and field season as the senior finishes out her stellar athletic career.
She and fellow state qualifier, Halle Keilholz, a senior, will lead a group that also includes sophomores, Shayleigh Whetstone and Savanna Worrell; and freshmen, Samantha Kindhard and Sharli Wagner.
Meanwhile, Root Cheney, a junior leads a 12-member boys team that includes nine freshmen, providing hope for the future.
“Overall, we have 18 athletes out for track, which is more than in the past,” said Coach Ryan Wood. “Several freshmen and sophomores will be key to our success.”
Wood said Straus will focus on long-distance races while Keilholz will concentrate on the 100-meter hurdles.
Kindhart and Whetstone will throw the shot and discus.
Root will be a sprinter on the boys team while freshman, Levi Wright and Porter Britt look to be competitive in distance races.
Other key contributors are Shawn Martin, a sophomore middle distance runner and freshmen Joey Lagemann and Caden Stotts in the hurdles.
Also on the boys team are freshmen Mac Keilholz, Nick Kelso, Rheo Schluckebier, James Walker and Mason Wood.
“It’ll be a fun year with lots of potential at the Class 1 level,” Wood said.
The season is set to start this Thursday at Monroe City and continue Friday at Palmyra.
The track teams have been assigned to Class 1, District 3 this season along with Atlanta, Bevier, Brashear, Brunswick, Bucklin, Canton, Hale, Keytesville, Knox County, LaPlata, Madison, North Shelby, Northeast (Cairo), Northwestern (Mendon), Paris and Slater.
The site of the district meet has yet to be announced.
2022 MCR-II Track
& Field Schedule
3/24 at Monroe City
3/25 at Palmyra
3/29 at Knox Co. Invite
3/31 Monroe City
4/8 at Palmyra Open
4/12 at Highland
4/14 at Canton
4/19 at Monroe City
4/25 at Monroe City
4/28 at Knox Co. Relays
5/5 at Knox Co. Open
