By Chuck Reherman
Sports Editor
EDMOND – Yukon somewhat hobbled into the Edmond Deer Creek Invitational and even though it wasn’t their best performance of the season, it did turn into a good day overall.
The Millers finished fourth in a field of 18 teams in the meet with 78 points. Tulsa Union won the meet with 134 and Edmond Santa Fe was second with 89.
The Millers had only one gold medal and one silver on the day.
“We’ve had a few nagging injuries over the last week or so and this prevented us from running everyone,”
Miller head coach Matt Parent said. “However, those that stepped in did a great job for us. This was a rather large meet with some very good teams entered.
“I was really proud of our 4×800 team,” he aid. “They improved by more than 15 seconds from last week. Elijah (Wallace) exploded with an opening leg of 1:58 as well. He smashed his best time by about five seconds. He also ran a 2:00 in the open 800 which is incredible for a second 800 of the day.
“In the hurdles, we held out Kole (Frederick) because of some nagging inflammation. However, Tyler (Dechant) and the Gerber brothers (Chris and Blake) ran some of their fastest times of the year in the 110’s. Tyler even broke into the 14’s. Both Blake and Chris also ran their best times of the year in the 300’s as well as running good times on the mile relay. They are really coming along.”
The Millers’ one gold medal came in the high jump where Dechant cleared 6-6.
Dechant also ran second in the 110 high hurdles in 14.6 seconds. Chris Gerber finished fifth in 15.46 seconds. Chris Gerber ran third in the 300-meter hurdles in 40.95 seconds and Blake Gerber was fourth in 41.05.
Wallace finished fourth in the 800 in 2:00.04. Makari Slaughter ran sixth in the 100 in 11.20 and Caden Hernandez was seventh in 11.25.
The 4×800 relay team of Wallace, Kohl Kimmel, Jake Hirschler, Colby McCoy ran second in 8:17.97.
Connor Suddeth finished fifth in the pole vault with a vault of 11-6. Zac Cantwell finished sixth in the discus with a throw of 129-0.
The Millerettes placed 10th overall with 28 points. Union won the meet with 153 points.
“Deer Creek was a pretty tough meet,” Millerette coach Rod Zimmerman said. “Again this week the vaulters were the highlight. Kyla won at 12’ she set the bar at 12’6” but did not clear it but was close she had the height she just didn’t quite make it over. She is really vaulting strong right now and there is not telling how high she may go by the end of the season. Maycie is starting to move up and Kenadi is still doing well.
“Our 4×800 has improved also” he added. “All four girls were right at if not faster than they have ran all year. I think they are starting to learn how to race and several of our other girls are learning also.”
Maycie Reed placed second in the pole vault at 10-0 the first time this season she broke 10-feet. Kenadi Hamilton was fourth at 9-6.
