South Barber Lady Chieftains Are 2009 Kansas 1A State Track & Field Champs!

2009 STATE TRACK:  (l-r) in front- Dru Hitchcock, Tanner Thurman, Kaitlyn Morris, Kelsie Johnston, Olivia Yandel, asst. coach Marlo Yandel. In back- Head coach Steve Roberts, asst. coach Tim Rector, Moira Kimmell, Brooke Murphy, Erin Merklein, Racheal Watts, Ali Thurman, asst. coach Janet Cook, asst. coach James Johnston.

ERIN MERKLEIN 1st in 100 meter Hurdles 1st in 300 meter Hurdles OLIVIA YANDEL 4th in Long Jump 4th (tie) in High Jump 4x100 METER RELAY 1st Place Dru Hitchcock Kelsie Johnston Olivia Yandel Kaitlyn Morris 4x400 METER RELAY 1st Place Dru Hitchcock Kaitlyn Morris Racheal Watts Erin Merklein 4x800 METER RELAY 2nd Place Erin Merklein Tanner Thurman Racheal Watts Kelsie Johnston

KAITLYN MORRIS leads the pack down the stretch as she anchored the 4x100 meter relay team to a gold medal.

OLIVIA YANDEL displays her jumping talents as she took 4th in the long jump, tied for 4th in the high jump and also competed in the triple jump. She was also a member of the winning 4x100 relay squad.

DRU HITCHCOCK ran the opening legs of the gold medal 4x100 and 4x400 meter relay teams.

KELSIE JOHNSTON made a great effort to catch this Hoxie runner in the 4x800 meter relay as the pair sprint to the finish.

TANNER THURMAN, right, passes the baton to RACHEAL WATTS as they helped lead the 4x800 relay team to a silver medal finish.

ERIN MERKLEIN has a big lead over the field as she ran a great time to win the 300 meter hurdles.

KIOWA NEWS PHOTOS by Rex Zimmerman & Don Kuenzi