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By Sarah Morgan

Pulling his arm back, junior Jacob Broadbent prepares to launch the javelin on Tuesday, March 28 at De Soto.

The girls track team placed first with a total score of 235.50 points, and the boys gathered 99 with a second place finish behind Leavenworth High School at the Leavenworth Invitational.

Senior Gabby Hopkins, who placed first in discus and shot put, broke the school record, and hopes to break it again.

“Breaking the school record felt really good, having both the shotput and discus record makes me really happy,” said Hopkins. “I hope to eventually break my records again and be a league, regional and state champion.”

Throwing coach Chris Dunback, having seen Hopkins throw for the past four years, believes that her technique with the throw was “incorrect.”

“What’s exciting about her new school record, is that she can actually throw farther,” Dunback said.

According to head coach Chris McAfee, the underclassmen stepped up to the challenge.

“We have some young kids who are going to take a little time to develop that did a lot of great things last night,” McAfee said. “[The underclassmen] showed a lot of promise for the season or down the road.”

McAfee also notes that the girls relay teams, who placed second in the 4×100 and first in the 4×400, performed well.

“[Leavenworth] has some of the best girl sprinters in the state,” McAfee said. “So for us to be right there was impressive.”

The track teams compete next in the Olathe East Relays at the Olathe District Athletic Complex on Friday, April 7.