Lady Panthers Win the Regional Championship, Multiple Panthers Qualify for State

On May 17, Derby Girls Track & Field in Liberal won the regional championship. In 16 events, the Lady Panthers qualified and won four of them.

Aspen Garvey and freshman Madison Askew won the 100-meter hurdles and shot throw, respectively. In the 800-meter race, Piper Hula maintained her dominant form, winning in 2:29.89. She was eligible for the 400-meter dash as well. Hula finished as a sophomore last season with a state medal in two races. With their first-place finish, Maddie Snowbarger, Avery Jackson, Eilyannis Monge, and Shadai Jackson’s 4×100 squad secured a spot at state.

Shadai Jackson finished fourth in the event to qualify for the 100-meter dash as well. Along with being a member of the 4×400 team with Shadai Jackson, Piper Hula, Zoe Dieguez, and Monge, Monge also qualified for the 400-meter dash.

Dieguez earned the Panthers vital points and a trip to the state championship by finishing third in the high jump. In the high jump, Kenadie Cassanova finished fourth and will compete alongside Dieguez at the state level.

Haley Smyth finished fourth in the javelin, Katelynn Thomsen punched her ticket in the discus, and Sanaa Truett advanced to the 100-meter hurdles. Both the long jump and the triple jump saw Brynn Huffman qualify.

The boys team qualified for numerous states in various events and finished fourth overall in the regionals. In eleven events, the Panthers had state qualifiers. The boys team’s performance at the event was highlighted by Martel Jackson, who won the 100 and 200 metre dashes. William Hopson won the 400, an event in which he earned a medal the previous year.

Jayden Harris, a senior pole vaulter, placed second at the regionals after hitting the 13′ 6″ threshold. With a third-place result in the triple jump, Beckham Kantukule qualified. Ben Schnelle qualified for the state meet by placing third in the 110-meter hurdles and fourth in the 300-meter hurdles. Gabriel Henriques shot out and finished fourth in the discus. Derek Hubbard, Demaria’e Baker, Arieus Finley, and Martel Jackson completed the boy’s qualifying with a fourth-place result in the Derby football 4×100 relay.

On May 24, the state qualifiers will compete in the state championships at Cessna Stadium on the campus of Wichita State University.