Wright City track teams ready for tough district competition

By Kory Carpenter, Record Sports Editor
Posted 11/7/19

The beginning of the Wright City track team’s postseason journey won’t be easy. The Wildcats will travel to Lutheran North for the Class 3, District 3 meet Saturday morning, and expect to see …

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Wright City track teams ready for tough district competition

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The beginning of the Wright City track team’s postseason journey won’t be easy.

The Wildcats will travel to Lutheran North for the Class 3, District 3 meet Saturday morning, and expect to see plenty of speed throughout the day.

“We’re going to the city, and that’s tough,” Wright City Head Coach Sue Wright said. “Without a doubt.”

The biggest adjustment might be in store for sprinter Danielle Dyer, who won four Eastern Missouri Conference championships last week.

Dyer won the 100- and 200-meter and anchored the 400 and 800 hurdles, but is ranked no better than sixth in the district in any of the four events.

The top four finishers in each event qualify for the sectional meet the following week.

Wright City’s best chances for sectional qualifiers appear to be in the distance and field events.

Kyle Christopher is ranked first in the district in the discus and third in the shot put.

His season-best discus toss of 167 feet, 10 inches is more than 26 feet further than any other district competitor.

Christopher believes he can reach 175 feet this season, which would place him second in the state.

He is currently fourth overall.

“I’m going to have to go a little faster across the ring and get my arm speed up,” he said.

The boys’ 3,200 relay team of Jake Mueller, Nick Mueller, Stephon Norwood and Bryce Reash is second in the district with a season-best time of 8 minutes, 49.39 seconds, which is 15 seconds faster than the third-place team from Orchard Farm.

“A lot of the teams are strong in sprints,” Wright said. “But they aren’t all strong in distance.”

Jake Mueller is also expecting a big day in the 800, where he ranks first in the district.

His time of 2:02.66 in the conference meet was the best time of any district runner this season.

Distance runners Jynna Fritz and Erin Tomschin are ranked second and third, respectively, in the 1,600, and Tomschin is ranked third in the 3,200.

Both runners are expected to advance to sectionals.

“There are some strong distance runners,” Wright said. “But Jynna and Erin definitely have a shot.”

But with nearly 40 years of experience at postseason meets, Wright said her advice to the team was simple.

“I always tell them to go there and do their best because you never know, especially in the relays,” she said. “Do the best you can and go from there.”

Head to Lutheran North SaturdayLONG JUMPING — Emajahnai Hunter flies through the air during the long jump at last week's Eastern Missouri Conference meet. Kory Carpenter photo.

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