EDWARDSVILLE - Father McGivney Catholic head girls and boys track and field coach Jim Helton is very pleased with the continued development of both of his squads.

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The Griffins' girls had some break-out performances at the Edwardsville Girls Invite with some unbelievable performances against top-notch large schools competition.

The Griffins also sent two relays and one individual to the Edwardsville Girls Invitational. The 4 x 800m relay of Kaitlyn Hatley, Lilly Gilbertson, Jane Cummins and Elena Rybak won in 9:37.55 (1A State leader). The 4 x 800 girls squad blew away the competition with Rybak on a strong anchor leg and great performances from the other three girls.

The same four girls also raced to victory in the 4 x 400m relay in 4:02.19 (1A State leader) Gilbertson also won the open 400m in 57.74. The 4 x 400m relay was a school record.

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The Griffins' girls and boys squads traveled to Murphysboro to compete in the Red Devil Track and Field Invitational. The girls finished 8th/12 teams and the boys 6/12 teams. With the top 6 scoring in the meet, the girls were led by: 2nd - Mia Range/high jump (1.48/4' 10"); 4th - Sami Oller/discus (28.9/94'10"), 4 x 800m relay team of: Caroline Rakers, McKenzie Jones, Bella Redenius, Isabella Harris (11:42); 5th - Sami Oller//shot (9.62/31'6.5"), Elsa Biermann/200m (26.61), and the 4 x 100m relay team of: Lily Terrell, Elli Moody, Ainsley Turkington, Biermann (56.33 - season best); 6th - Moody/high jump (1.37/4'6"), Zoe Oller/discus (27.27/89"6") + shot (9.45/31'0") and the 4 x 400m relay team of: Rakers, Redenius, Turkingon and Harris.

The girls set 6 personal records during the meet highlighted by Lily Terrell/100m (14.8) and Zoe Oller/shot.


The boys team was led by Liam Boeving's 2nd place 3200m in 10:46. 3rd - Will Rakers/400m (54.85), 4 x 800m relay team of: Liam Schmidt, Connor Schmidt, Levi Huber, and Rakers in a season-best of 8:52. 4th - L Schmidt/1600m (4:53.9), and the 4 x 400m relay team of: L Schmidt, Lyle Biermann, Colin Moore, and Rakers in 3:48 (season best).

The boys also set 6 personal bests, highlighted by Owen Weissert/200m (25.2) and Lyle Biermann/400m (55.74.)

The next meet for the Griffin girls/boys squad is the Small School Madison County Championship at Civic Memorial on 4/22/24.

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