Linn track coach Robyn Baker said last Monday’s Osage-Maries Challenge was a good meet for the middle school athletes. “A small group of competitors can go either way, slower times or a push for better times and distances,” sh said. “For Linn MS it pushed them to have better times and distances.”

Kylie Messenger is just getting to compete due to practices, and she is getting better with each competition, taking three seconds off her 100m dash (7, 16.12) and one second off her 200m dash (6, 33.52). Baker said she is also a great addition to the 400m relay team, running with Kenzy Hackmann, Shayla Burnett and Ava Franken to a first-place finish in 1:01.

Ruby Herndon (3:06) and Franken (3:10) had a good 800m run, finishing third and fourth, respectively. “They were both a little shy getting started in the season but are now figuring out what it takes to be competitive in these races,” said Baker. “Kenzy was coming back from a bit of injury, but took it easy by not jumping and ran a good 100m dash. She is going to have a push to do even better this upcoming week.”

On the boys’ side, Aiden Mebruer is really proving to be a good sprinter, earning first place in the 100m (13.31) and third in the 200m (29.39).

Tommy Scheulen took on the triple jump, finishing third (9.57m). “I believe he found a great niche,” said Baker. “With a bit more work, his technique will get even better, and he will be fun to watch in high school.”

Baker said Zyan Knollmeyer and Ian Laughlin are working hard at their throws, and this was an especially good meet for Laughlin in the shot put.

Here are the remaining results.

100m dash: Hackmann (5, 14.83); Kayden Monroe (8, 16.49)

200m dash: Shayla Burnett (3, 30.88); Ben Stephens (4, 30.06)

400m dash: Zoe Werdehausen (3, 1:22); Scheulen (3, 1:03), Kahne Brandt (5, 1:07)

800m run: Preston Keilholz (4, 2:35)

400m relay: Titus Black, Laughlin, Monroe, Mebruer (12, 1:00)

800m relay: Burnett, Bria Kempker, Herndon, Werdehausen (2, 2:14); Keilholz, Laughlin, Scheulen, Monroe (1, 1:58)

1600m relay: Herndon, Kempker, Franken, Werdehausen (2, 5:28)

LJ: Werdehausen (2, 4.03m), Franken (7, 3m), Herndon (11, 2.56m); Black, Keilholz, Scheulen, Stephens (2, 4:24)

LJ: Keilholz (2, 4.66m), Brandt (8, 3.69m)

Discus: Knollmeyer (4, 22.68m), Laughlin (7, 17.38m)

Shot put: Kempker (4, 5.18m); Laughlin (4, 8.52m), Knollmeyer (6, 7.82m)