Lady Tigers shine at West Plains Open

Tuesday was a big day for the Houston High School girls track and field team, as the Lady Tigers took second in a talented field at the annual West Plains Open.

The HHS girls scored 136 points to take second among 13 teams at the meet, while the boys scored 48 to place sixth in a field of 14 squads.

West Plains topped both the boys and girls team standings.

Houston’s girls posted victories in six events and set two school records, as junior Adyson Dailing won the 100 and 200-meter dashes, freshman Lyla Huffman won the 800 and 1,600-meter runs, senior Kayla Wagner won the 400-meter dash in school record time and senior Kynlee Weaver won the javelin. The Lady Tigers also took second in four events, including a school record showing by Dailing in the 300-meter hurdles.

On the boys side, junior Kane Crawford had a big day in the sprints, taking third in the 400, fourth in the 100 and fifth in the 200, while senior Mason Dodson took second in javelin.

HHS HIGHLIGHTS

Girls

• 100-meter dash: Adyson Dailing, 1^st, 13.20 (37 runners).
• 200-meter dash: Adyson Dailing, 1^st, 27.27; Kayla Wagner, 2^nd, 27.48 (28 runners).
• 400-meter dash: Kayla Wagner, 1^st, 1:01.68, school record (25 runners).

• 800-meter run: Lyla Huffman, 1^st, 2:29.95 (13 runners).
• 1,600-meter run: Lyla Huffman, 1^st, 5:36.68 (13 runners).

• 100-meter hurdles: Adyson Dailing, 2^nd, 17.51 (14 runners).
• 300-meter hurdles: Adyson Dailing, 2^nd, 47.81, school record (11 runners).
• Triple jump: Kayla Wagner, 2^nd, 9.84m (9 jumpers).
• Javelin: Kynlee Weaver, 1^st, 33.62m (17 throwers).

• Shot put: Kynlee Weaver, 4^th, 9.02m (27 throwers).

“Adyson struggled a little at Osage and came out with something to prove,” said HHS head coach Mike Tottingham. “I think all doubts are gone that she is one of the best runners in the area. 

“Kayla is one of the most selfless athletes I have ever been around. She spends a ton of time working with all of our young athletes at the expense of her own training. This year we challenged her to be more selfish and that focus is showing, with a new record in the 400 and a personal record in high jump. 

“Lyla is living up to all the hype. She is close to the school record in both of her events and a top-10 runner for Class 3 at the state level.” 

Boys

• 100-meter dash: Kane Crawford, 4^th, 12.07 (49 runners).
• 200-meter dash: Kane Crawford, 5^th, 24.57 (49 runners).
• 400-meter dash: Kane Crawford, 3rd, 54.61 (31 runners).

“It has been a couple years since we have had a competitive sprinter on the boys team,” Tottingham said. “Kane might be the hardest worker I have ever coached and proof to all my younger athletes that speed is a learnable skill.”

• 800-meter run: Dillon Shelton, 3^rd, 2:14.22 (31 runners).
• 110-meter hurdles: Hudson Volk, 3^rd, 19.18 (9 runners).
• 4X100 relay: Houston, 4^th, 47.99 (8 teams).
• Javelin: Mason Dodson, 2^nd, 42.22m (35 throwers).

The two HHS squads will compete again Friday at the Rolla Classic.