The Westonka track and field team competed at the WCC East Championship meet on May 13 at Holy Family Catholic High School. The White Hawks girls worked their way to a strong second place, finishing close behind the conference champion, Delano. The White Hawks boys combined to earn fourth place, just one point out of third place and behind conference champion Jordan.

Coach Sarah Schwartz reflected after the meet, “The Westonka athletes competed really well in the heat at Conference. The girls had a phenomenal meet, eeking out every possible point to earn second place. The boys overcame illness and injuries to have a strong fourth-place finish.”

Several Westonka girls placed first in their events, earning All-Conference recognition. Junior Morgan Johnson took first place in the 200m hurdles with a personal record (PR) of 47.15. Junior Lexie Rehman took first place in the high jump with a season's best jump of 5 feet. Sophomore Sami Christensen took first place in two events, breaking her school record in both the long jump with a distance of 17’ 11.5” and the triple jump with a distance of 36’ 4.5”. The 4x100m relay of S Christensen, A Olson, L Rehman and M Johnson also earned All-Conference with a first-place finish. 

The White Hawks girls added scoring depth through almost every running event in the course of the meet. The 4x800m relay team of H Hoag, A Daum, S Engesser and A Reginold placed third with a season's best time. In the 100m sprint, senior Avery Olson placed third and sophomore Sami Christensen placed seventh. The 4x200m relay team of P Johnson, A Olson, E Castellon Williams and L Thelen placed fourth. In the 400m, eighth grader Hadley Hoag placed fifth and senior Audrey Kirscht placed seventh. In the 800m, sophomore Anna Regenold placed third with a PR. In the 200m, sophomore Eva Castellon Williams placed sixth with a PR. In the 3,200m, sophomore Sophia Engesser placed sixth, eighth grader Lydia Engesser placed sixth, and ninth grader Elise Hays placed seventh. The 4x400m relay team of K Kromenhoek, A Daum, E Johnson, and M Johnson placed second. 

The White Hawks girls also put their strength on display in the field events. In the shot put, junior Delaney Parker placed eighth. In the discus, ninth grader Grace Schrempp placed second. In the high jump, junior Paige Johnson placed fifth with a PR. In the pole vault, sophomore Annika Christoph placed second and sophomore Jillian Schmitz placed seventh, both with PRs. In the long jump, junior Erica Johnson placed fourth with a PR. In the triple jump, Erica Johnson placed second and eighth grader Hadley Hoag placed sixth, both with PRs. 

For the boys, the White Hawks celebrated two first-place finishes, earning All-Conference honors. Junior Andrew Hoisington took first place in the shot put with a PR throw of 45’ 4.75”. Senior JT Kimbrough took first place in the long jump with a PR jump of 21’ 6.5”. 

The White Hawks boys had Top 8 finishes in all 11 of the running events. The 4x800m relay team of I Hays, R Shaffer, C Pearson and G Kevitt placed fourth. In the 110m hurdles, junior Mason Merritt placed fourth. In the 100m sprint, JT Kimbrough placed seventh. The 4x200m relay team of S Santiago, J Kimbrough, C Rowe and B Sexton placed third. In the 1,600m, ninth grader Robbie Chilson placed sixth with a PR and sophomore Davin Wahtola placed seventh. The 4x100m relay team of J Kimbrough, G Thelen, M Merritt and C Rowe placed fifth. In the 400m, ninth grader Maxwell French placed sixth with a PR. In the 300m hurdles, senior Brenden Sexton placed second, sophomore Jensen Blackstad placed sixth with a PR, and junior Mason Merritt placed seventh with a PR. In the 800m, junior Gavin Kevitt placed third with a season's best time. In the 3,200, senior Isaac Hays placed third and sophomore Levi Hays placed eighth, both with PRs. The 4x400 relay team of C Rowe, B Sexton, G Thelen and M French placed third. 

The White Hawks boys also had Top 8 finishers in each of the six field events. In the shot put, senior Carter Kleinsasser placed fourth and junior Glenn Givens Jr placed fifth with a PR throw. In the discus, Givens Jr placed sixth and eighth grader Andrew Regenold placed eighth, both with PR throws. In the high jump, junior Gavin Thelen placed sixth with a PR jump. In the pole vault, eighth grader Sam Trombley placed fifth and Andrew Regneold placed eighth with a PR vault. In the long jump, sophomore Julian Herkelman placed fourth with a PR jump. In the triple jump, Herkelman placed third with a PR jump and junior John Seckinger placed seventh. 

Coach Schwartz shared, “The White Hawks had their best meet of the season and are ready to have a strong Section 2AA meet. We are hoping to send several kids to state.”

The Section 2AA Championship meet will take place on May 27 and 29 at Rockford High School.