By Chuck Reherman
Sports Editor
Yukon knew going into its annual Sundowner Meet that this version would be one of the most challenging in recent years.
The Millers rose to the challenge and finished third overall.
YHS racked up 112 points to finish behind meet winner Edmond North and runner-up Edmond Santa Fe. There were six teams in the field, but it was the largest field (competitor-wise since the Sundowner meet began).
The Millers recorded five gold medals, two silver and one bronze medals in finishing third.
“The meet went a little longer than the previous Sundowner meets because, with over 600 athletes entered, we had the largest Sundowner meet ever,” Miller head coach Matt Parent said. “All six schools were able to enter as many as they would like in the various events, so that obviously created more heats per event. However, this is the perfect time to do it.
“The season has just started, and we are about to go to a break,” he said. “Our staff wanted to load kids up, and make this a great conditioning meet.”
Kole Frederick earned two of the four YHS gold medals, winning both the 110-meter high hurdles and the 300-meter intermediate hurdles. Frederick ran the 110’s in 15.09 and came back with a 41.49 time to win the 300’s.
Tyler Dechant finished second in the 110’s in a time of 15.55. Blake Gerber finished fourth in 16.09 and Chris Gerber was fifth in 16.13. Chris Gerber also finished fourth in the 300’s in 43.84.
“Our hurdlers continue to improve,” Parent said. “All four of them had an awesome day. All four of them ran their fastest races ever. While each ran their best time, they all definitely have room to improve which makes things even more interesting.
“Kole just missed dropping into the 14’s, and Tyler is right there with him,” he added. “Blake just missed getting into the 15’s, and Chris ran the best 300 race of his life. He was really accelerating down the straight. He ran a great race!”
Dechant also earned a gold medal in the high jump, clearing six-feet, six-inches in his second meet. He was also fifth in the long jump with a leap of 20-feet, 4.5-inches.
“Another big performance in the high jump by Tyler,” Parent said. “He cleared 6-6 again, and he just barely missed at 6-8. It is just a matter of time before he clears it. Coach (Kevin) Ritter will clean some things up with his approach, and it will make all the difference. Tyler is really becoming a great track athlete for us.”
Jack Gose had his best day in the pole vault, clearing 14-6 to win the event against a strong field.
“I was really happy with how Jack finished in the pole vault,” Parent said. “He got is PR and it was a great jump. He has been adjusting a few things with his jump, and things are really coming together for him now.”The Millers’ other gold medal came in the 4×3200 relay. The team of Elijah Ankrom, Kolby McCoy, Noah Hanscomb and Elijah Wallace ran a time of 8:45.66. The Miller B team finished fifth in 9:49 and the C team was sixth in 9:54.53.
Ankrom was also second in the 3200 run in 10:29.12. Kohl Kimmel ran seventh in 10:53.79 and Cade Pope was eighth in 10:56.68. Ankrom ran fourth in the 1600 in 4:50.93. Hanscom ran sixth in the 800 in 2:08.05 and Wallace finished sixth in the 400 in 55.42.
“I thought Noah had a good meet last night as well,” He is starting to get into track shape now, and I also think Elijah did a great job with a very heavy load. He ran a 10:39 3200 in a 40 mph wind storm. He ran a smart race, and I’m pretty sure he can run in the low 10’s on a normal day.”
The 4×200 relay team of Coyle Berry, Isaiah Butler, Parker Kenley and B.J. Wright ran fourth in 1:35.45. The 4×400 relay team of Wallace, Peyton Hofer, Wright and Frederick ran a fifth place time of 3:50.52. Butler also ran fifth in 100-meter dash in 11.36 seconds.
Isaac Yancy placed third in the discus with a throw of 128-1. Jamar Smith was fifth in the shot with a heave of 39-8.
“We now have quite a bit of time until the next meet,” Parent said. “We will have a couple practices over the break. Then, we will have to hit it hard before we go to Carl Albert on April 6th.”
