PHS tracksters shine bright

Pole vaulter Timmy Wann produced a first-place finish for the Pawhuska High School track and field squad at the recent Tiger Track Classic in Stroud.

Wann won the March 30 competition by clearing the bar at 13 feet, nine inches — more than two feet higher than that of the runnerup in the event. It was the second-best vault so far this season in Oklahoma Class 3A. The senior, who finished third in pole vault at the 2012 state meet, is just three inches short of the year’s top mark.

Another PHS senior, Zak Stone, placed fourth in the Stroud pole vaulting. Stone also finished second in the meet’s high jump competition, although he cleared the same 6-4 height as the meet champion. The Huskie standout took fourth for the Tiger Classic pole vault, while Brad Moreland of PHS finished among the top 10.

For the 2013 season, Stone leads all 3A high jumpers with the 6 feet, 6 inch effort he unleashed at the March 28 Pawhuska Invitational At last year’s state meet, he placed third in the high jump and 10th for the pole vault.

Lady Huskie team members were led at the competition by freshman Haley Mouser, who earned third-place honors in the high jump. Mouser successfully went over the 4-10 mark at Stroud. Her clearance of five feet, two inches in the Pawhuska meet rates her among the current Class 3A leaders for the event.

Notable performances also were achieved at the Tiger Track Classic by the Lady Huskies’ 4-by-200 (fifth place) and 4-by-400 (sixth place) relay teams.

The time clocked by the PHS 800-relay squad in Pawhuska is currently the seventh fastest of the year in 3A, and the time of the Lady Huskies’ 400-meter unit ranks as eighth. Another Pawhuska athlete listed among the 3A state leaders for an event is Darien Lookout in pole vault.

Pawhuska team members were to participate in meets Tuesday (Ponca City) and Friday (at Chisholm). On Saturday, April 20, the Huskies and Lady Huskies are to be entered in the Catoosa Track Classic. The conference track meet is slated for Monday, April 22.

High school track Regionals are set April 27, although the sites have yet to be announced. State meets for Classes 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A are scheduled May 3-4.

Inclement weather has caused cancellation of some of this year’s events.

Head coach of the PHS track and field squads is Mark Frye.