Girls Track - Leyton, Creek Valley take podiums

As Leyton's Kaitlyn Berner was preparing to run her first competitive 800-meter race at Chappell Tuesday, Warriors distance coach James McGown gave her some useful advice. "Stick close to Ashley Burr," he said.

Though Berner followed her coaches advice to the letter, she still couldn't catch the veteran Creek Valley runner down the stretch. But Berner managed to get the best of her friend and adversary Burr in another closely fought battle.

With the Burr-Berner rivalry being just two of many closely contested battles at the Storm Invite on Tuesday, the team from Burns, Wyo. took the team titles in both the girls and boys meets. The Broncs captured the girls competition with 147 points while Leyton (119) and Creek Valley (106) were close behind in second and third positions.

Before the drama of the girls 800 meters unfolded, Burr and Berner faced off in the triple jump. For good measure Burr's Storm teammate Jerry Straber joined the fray. When all was said and done, Berner (31-05) edged Burr (31-00) by just five inches with Straber just seven inches short of Burr in third (30-05).

Though their distances were not as they would have hoped, a flag whipping wind smacked the jumpers head on throughout the competition.

"The wind was my biggest problem," said Berner. "It was hard to get my marks down with that wind blowing so strongly in my face. But it worked against everybody."

Later in the day Burr managed a little friendly revenge when it came to her specialty. Soon after the start of the 800 meters it became obvious it was going to be a two-girl race. Burr took the lead on the first turn and Berner went right with her. Soon the pair left the rest of the field behind.

Throughout the two-lap race Burr held a lead of no more than several meters. When the pair turned for home, Berner began to move closer before Burr found another gear nearing the finish.

"I'm glad she was there," Burr said. "I was a little worried because I feel sick today. When that happens my legs feel like cinderblocks. But Kaitlyn really pushed me. I had a nice kick at the end."

Berner was also happy with her performance.

"Since it's the first time I've run this I'm very happy with how it went," she said. "I know how good Ashley is, so this is a good result."

Berner also scored for Leyton in the 100 meters with her sixth-place finish.

In the closing event of the meet, Burr added to her productive day. She opened a huge lead for Creek Valley in the 4x400 which the Storm held for an easy win. Burr was joined by Jerry and Jessie Straber and Summer Mueller in the victory.

As for the Straber sisters, they had a little friendly rivalry going as well. In the high jump Jessie edged big sister Jerry by two inches. Jessie, a freshman, finished in second with a jump of 4-08 while the senior Jerry cleared 4-06 for fourth.

In between the Straber sisters was Stefanie Mitchell in third who also cleared 4-08.

"I know I can do better but I just missed at 4-10," said Jessie Straber. "(Jerry) told me I'd never beat her, but not this time."

Jessie Straber also medaled in the long jump. Her fifth place put her just behind Mitchell in fourth.

Another who recorded a strong meet for Creek Valley was senior Summer Mueller. She had quite an odyssey trying to compete in three events simultaneously. While competing in the pole vault Mueller needed to twice excuse herself. On one occasion she ran the 4x100-meter relay and then the 300-meter hurdles.

"I did two vaults, then ran the 4x100, then I did another vault and then ran the 300 hurdles before coming back to the pole vault," said Mueller. "Where that really gets me is in the field event. I was pretty tired having to do that last height."

Upon her return Mueller needed about 10 minutes to recover before attempting to clear 8-06. Though neither Mueller, or South Platte's Tiffany Hill topped the mark, Hill won the tie breaker.

Mueller did, however, break the string in the 300 hurdles.

The 4x100 team came in second. Hannah Blackwelder and the Straber sisters participated in the 4x100 with Mueller.

Blackwelder put up another 10 points for Creek Valley with her win in the shot put. Leyton's Katy Ernest and BreaHanna Harlow also medaled in third and sixth, respectively.

Among the other strong performances for Leyton included the hurdlers. Abbe Draper led the group with a top-three sweep in the 100 hurdles. She was followed by Taylor Berner and Shaela Jenkins. The trio was also strong in the 300 hurdles, Draper crossing in second, Jenkins fourth and Berner fifth.

Draper also medaled in the high jump.

The beat went on for the Warriors thrower supreme Kassandra Harris as she won her third consecutive discus throw.

Harris has not lost a competition since her second place in the season opening meet at Sidney. Her teammate Ernest medaled in third while Dani McKay came in seventh.

Before the start, Harris indicated concern over having to throw down wind. Nevertheless she won by a comfortable margin.

Creek Valley will be off the track until Tuesday when they head to Sutherland.

Leyton will be at Morrill two days later.

Storm Invite

Team Scores

1. Burns 147

2. Leyton 119

3. Creek Valley 106

4. South Platte 100

5. Pine Bluffs 96

6. Garden County 57