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Strong field events should lead Falcons in 2020

Fayette looks to returning state-qualifiers to score consistently when season begins

By Jeff Yoder
Posted 3/25/20

Whenever students return to school in Fayette, the Falcons will return to the track.

The MSHSAA decided on Monday, March 16 that spring championships would not be canceled, and spring sports could …

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Strong field events should lead Falcons in 2020

Fayette looks to returning state-qualifiers to score consistently when season begins

Posted

Whenever students return to school in Fayette, the Falcons will return to the track.

The MSHSAA decided on Monday, March 16 that spring championships would not be canceled, and spring sports could take place as long as schools were in session.

The next day, the Fayette school district made the decision to close the schools through March 31 (later amended to April 6), delaying the start of the season for the Falcon athletes.

When the season resumes, the Fayette team is expecting its returning state-qualifiers to lead the way. The Falcons look to be particularly strong in the field events, led by a pair of juniors and school-record holders: Josh and Zach Henderson.

Josh Henderson set Fayette’s current discus record at the district meet last year with a throw of 153-11. He medaled with a sixth-place throw of 147-07 at the state meet.

“He’s put some pretty good size on this year, so it’ll be interesting how that translates to his discus form,” Fayette coach Tom Oakley said.

“He’s going to throw the shot this year, so definitely a little extra weight behind him is going to be good for the shot put.”

Zach Henderson became the Falcon record-holder in the javelin with a throw of 158-01, which also occurred during Fayette’s district championship meet in Mokane. He finished 13th at the state meet with a throw of 136-08. Both Hendersons are looking to peak at the state championship meet this season.

Another field event that should be a strength for Fayette is the pole vault, where junior Dillan Lembke is returning off of a state meet appearance. Lembke finished 14th with a height of 11 feet last year.

“He’s been working here the last couple weeks and he’s really looking good,” Oakley said. “I would say if he’s not beginning where he left off last year, he’s maybe a little better than where he left off last year.”

Cale Hudson had never attempted to vault before, but has shown natural ability in the event. “He picked up a pole last week and he’s really looking pretty good at it as well,” Oakley said. “I’m excited about him.”

Robert Saunders, who was a second-team all-state defensive lineman for Fayette in the fall, has joined the track team and will throw shot put for the first time.

“If he can get the form down, I expect him to consistently score,” Oakley said.

In the running events, the Falcons are led by seniors Jack Kindle and Dawson Wiswall, who medaled at state last year along with Kaden Polson in the 4x200-meter relay.

“Jack did some distance this year, he’s going to transition more to more sprints, a (400) or (200) kind of guy,” Oakley said. “Dawson was consistently in our open 100 last year and he’ll do a little bit of hurdles this year.”

Polson occasionally ran in an open 100, 200 or 400, but started the 4x100 and 4x200-meter relays each meet. Kyle Schleeter also returns. He finished fourth in 3200-meter run at the conference meet last year as a sophomore. He also ran with the Falcons’ 4x800.

A newcomer to watch is freshman Chase Allen.

“Chase Allen was real successful last year in middle school and I think he’s going to be a big help to us this year,” Oakley said.

“Last year we won most of our meets, conference and district. We lost some good kids, but we’ve got the main core back.”

On the girls side, there are very few returners and a large group of freshmen. Abbey Conrow is the only senior. Conrow ran on the three sprint relays last year and Oakley expects her to fill that role again.

“She ran 4x1, 4x2, 4x4, last year,” he said. “She’ll run those same events, and maybe we can find some individual event for her. She’s been working a little bit with the javelin.”

Breanna Estes finished first in the shot put at the district meet last season with a throw of 34-6, and she finished 12th in her state meet debut with a toss of 32-0.

“My goal is to throw farther each meet, at least half an inch,” Estes said. She said the key to reaching her goals will be “really learning the spin and coming to practice ready to work and ready to get better every day.”

Another Falcon that could score points in the field events is Leah Lembke, who did some pole vault a season ago and is expected to contribute more consistently this season. 

“Leah Lembke is looking real good at the pole vault, I’m excited about her,” Oakley said.

“She has been working with Just Vault and Todd Cooper in Excelsior Springs. Leah and (Dillan) have gone up there a couple times and it’s really paid off. Both of them look pretty good.”

A freshman to watch from the girls’ team is Preslee Sunderland, who led the Falcons in stolen bases during the softball season.    

“Preslee Sunderland is obviously a good athlete,” Oakley said.

“Really quick. We’re expecting her to run some hurdles. I think she’s going to be real successful there. She’s probably going to be on those two sprint relays.”

Oakley said that this year’s track team doesn’t have any elite sprinters, but there are plenty of talented runners that should compete for spots on the various relays.

“We don’t have any real, real, fast kids, but we have a lot of fast kids,” Oakley said.

“They’re pretty equal. The relays… I think all year long it might be putting people in different places until we get figured out where they fit best when it comes to districts.”

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