Vandalia track and field has another strong showing; boys place second twice this week

The Vandalia High School boys track and field team was edged out for first by just a couple of points two times this week.

On Tuesday afternoon, Vandalia (73 points) came in second to Greenville (83 points). Last Thursday, Vandalia (99) fell just short of Carlinville (102)

Tuesday afternoon at Hillsboro, Vandalia had five first-place finishes, three by Quenten Austin and two by Drew Stewart.

Austin dominated in the hurdles once again, winning the 110-meter high hurdles with a time of 16.1 seconds and the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 42.8.

All season, Austin has been challenging Angel Osorio in the high jump. He was finally able to beat his teammate on Tuesday, clearing 6 feet, 1 inch. Osorio took second at 6 feet.

Stewart dominated in the throwing events. He won both the discus and the shot put. His discus distance was 130 feet, 8 inches, and his shot put throw went 43 feet, 1 inch.

Marty Johnson took second in the shot at 40 feet, 9 inches.

The Vandals were able to sweep the shot put as Will Cowger placed third with a throw of 40 feet, 7 inches.

A couple of freshmen are making a ruckus, as Ryan Ambuehl placed second in the triple jump, with a leap of 37 feet, 10 inches. Blake Swofford took second in the long jump at 17 feet, 10 inches.

Vandalia had three second-place finshes in the track events. Osorio placed second in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.6. And Daniel Bell ran the 800-meter run in 2:11, bettering his time from earlier in the week.

Vandalia’s 4×400-meter relay team placed second also. Austin, Bell, Ambuel and Harter had a time of 3:48.6.

Ambuel also placed third in the 400-meter dash at 56.4.

Nick Filer placed in the 110-meter hurdles for the first time this year. He took third with a time of 17.

Vandalia’s 4×100-meter relay team and the 4×800-meter relay team both placed third.

The Vandals will compete again on Saturday at the Pana Open at 9 a.m. On Tuesday, they will travel to Cumberland to compete in the Cumberland Invitational, starting at 4 p.m.

Carlinville

April 8

Vandalia came just shy of its second win of the season last Thursday. The Vandals fell short by just three points to host Carlinville.

"We’re just making progress. That’s what we’re trying to do," Vandalia coach Jane Bell said. "Everyone is getting faster times, working on their form and starting to get the hang of what it means to warm up and cool down, and compete.

"That’s what it comes down to – your times are great, but you still want to beat the other guy," she said.

The team had three first-place finishes, all in field events. Osorio won the high jump, clearing 6 feet, 2 inches.

Cowger won the shot put with a throw of 41 feet, 11 inches and Stewart won the discus at 129 feet.

Vandalia had eight second-place finishes – Austin in the high jump and Johnson in the shot put, just behind their older teammates.

Bell said that havingthe older athletes doing well helps bring up the younger athletes

The 4×100-meter relay team of Swofford, Filer, Osorio and Tim Ritchey placed second with a time of 48 seconds. The same group placed second in the 4×200 at 1:42.1.

Osorio also placed second in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.1.

Austin placed second in the 110-meter hurdles (16.3) and the 300-meter hurdles (44.6).

Bell placed second in the 800-meter run at 2:12.2.

Vandalia’s 4×400-meter relay (3:56.1) and 4×800-meter relay (10:18.6) teams both placed third.

Ambuehl placed third in the 400-meter dash (57 seconds). Swofford jumped 18 feet, 3 1/2 inches in the long jump and Johnson threw 109 feet, 10 inches in the discus, both placing third.

Bell (discus), Stewart (shot put) and Ambuehl (triple jump) all placed fourth.