While every school seems to enjoy hosting its own track meet, the Warrenton girls were preparing for last Friday’s 2017 Warrior Invitational while battling injuries.

So when the event was canceled due to inclement weather, Head Coach Steve Wurtzel didn’t seem too upset.

“As much as I don’t want to say that, it really is,” he said when asked if the extra rest could be a blessing in disguise.

The Warriors compete at the Gateway Athletic Conference North meet at Winfield Friday afternoon.

“Let’s keep everybody healthy and not give anybody else a chance to get injured anymore,” he said. 

“I think we suffered a setback with Lexi (Frederick) on Thursday with her knee injury, but we’ll see how that goes. We have kids that have been running all year long, so it’s just a matter of who is going to take it these last few weeks.”

The Warriors are looking for their fourth consecutive GAC North championship.

They beat Liberty last season by 22 points.

St. Charles West was a distant third, and Warrenton appears to be the favorite heading into Friday.

Emma Housewright is ranked first in the conference in the 100-meter (13.09 seconds) and second in the 200 (27.78).

Sabrina McRoberts leads the conference in the high jump after clearing 4 feet, 10 inches at the Holt Pow Wow Invitational.

Courtney Richardson and Allison Tonioli are near the top in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles.

Richardson is second in the 300 (49.49) while Tonioli is third (51.16)

In the 100, Tonioli sits in second at 16.59.

“I like our chances. I’ve been looking at the meet every night, I won’t lie,” Wurtzel said. “Right now I’m just waiting on everyone else’s entries to get put in. I’m a little frustrated that our entries are due Wednesday at midnight instead of Friday at 9 a.m., especially with our injuries. I don’t want to sacrifice anything. If I can put two people into an event, I’m going to put two people in.”

Lexi Frederick continues to battle a knee injury and Wurtzel said he will have to find a replacement in the high jump.

It was unclear if Rylie Cox will be 100 percent for the triple jump.

Cox is currently ranked first in the conference with a season-best jump of 33 feet, 4 1/2 inches.

“With these smaller meets, it’s all about who is going to come in and steal some points away from you with the lesser points, so right now it’s all about getting every spot filled,” Wurtzel said. “But I definitely think we can win again.”