Santa Fe sophomore Lauren Aversman medaled in five events, including the 300-meter hurdles, to advance to the sectional meet. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

Ana Jackson is a very fast young lady.

The Slater freshman showed that Saturday throughout the MSHSAA Class 1, District 5 Track and Field Championships at Marshall -- especially in her final circuit. The Lady Wildcats were in sixth place halfway through the last event, the 1,600-meter relay, but a strong leg by sophomore Niki Kruger got them to within 20 meters of the leader.

By the time Jackson was in the middle of the backstretch, in less than 100 meters, she had passed the Wellington-Napoleon runner and kept her behind to the finish line. It didn't ruin the day of the Lady Tigers, who still made it a Wellington sweep for the boys' and girls' team titles, but it made for a fine exit for Jackson -- who won the 100- (13.10 seconds) and 200-meter (26.90) dashes, with times which would have put her in the top five at last year's state meet, and was second in the long jump (14 feet, 8 inches).

This means that Jackson and her relay teammates -- Kruger, senior Jessica Fleetwood and freshman Marissa Weiher -- will return to Marshall this week for the sectional round. Kruger was already assured of being there anyway, coming in second in the 800 (2:36.0) and 1,600 (5:59.0) -- one spot ahead of junior teammate Rachel Gonzalez (6:13.0), who defended her district title in the 3,200 (13:13.0).

Kruger, Gonzalez, Weiher and sophomore Lexsi Griffith also joined together to qualify in the 3,200 relay (11:37.0).

The Lady 'Cats were third in the standings with 91 points, while Santa Fe had 61 points for sixth place and Sweet Springs came in ninth with 35 points.

Besides a win in the discus for junior Cassie Wright (106-5), the defending state champion beating all comers by nearly 25 feet, the Lady Chiefs also enjoyed a strong performance from sophomore Lauren Aversman. She won the long jump (14-10), was second in the triple jump (31-7.5) and 300 low hurdles (52.10), and placed third in the 200 (28.70).

Wright added a second place in the shot put (30-9.5) behind Sweet Springs sophomore Hollie Heaper (31-3), who also won last year. Two other Lady Greyhounds advanced to sectionals, sophomore Kim Rennison finishing second in the 100 (13.90) and sophomore Kristen Jones third in the discus (80-11).

Slater was fourth among boys' teams with 79.5 points, also winning the 3,200 relay (3:44.0) with a fine anchor leg by junior Jeremy Wilson following juniors Jeremy Fizer and Garrett Falls and sophomore Cody Skinner. Wilson was first in the 200 (24.00) and second in the 400 (54.50), and worked with Falls, senior Kyle Durham and freshman Travis Holt for second in the 400 relay (47.80).

Skinner qualified in the 110 high (17.00) and 300 intermediate (44.90) hurdles, Durham was fourth in the high jump (5-6) and senior Lucas Johnson placed fourth in the discus (108-0).

The distance runners fueled Santa Fe's third-place, with 84.5 points. Junior Darin Buford held down the last leg of the Chiefs' winning 3,200 relay (9:23.0) -- following sophomores Jeff Knipmeyer, Hunter Rolf and Derrick Kennedy -- and was second in the 800 (2:12.0), one spot ahead of senior teammates Ramon Gordillo (2:14.0).

The 400 relay (50.0) of seniors Garrick Baldwin and Josh Eickhoff and juniors Lance Miller and Ben Catlett was fourth, while junior Logan Kirchhoff repeated his district win in the triple jump (40-2.5) and was second in the long jump (18-4.5).

Sweet Springs will advance two athletes: sophomore Kyle Hollrah in the triple jump (38-5) and sophomore Zach Thomas in the discus (109-0).

Sophomore Tyler Armstrong, third in the long jump (18-1), will be Malta Bend's lone entry in the sectional meet.