TRACK: Hodges, Hanning help cap season with state meet appearance

Hanning was named All-State at the competition.

Hodges vaulted 12 feet, six inches, which was good for ninth place in the state.

Hanning vaulted nine feet even, placing her eighth. Hanning also placed as the 15th best in Missouri for discus with a throw of 88-7.

Hanning vaulted 9-0 with no misses. She did not clear 9-3 and went out with several other girls. She was the only girl who did not have any misses at previous heights, so she placed eighth.

“We are still a very young track team with only one senior, and that one senior was in his first year with our track team,” said Coach Brian McNamee. “We have a very solid foundation to build on next year, and our boys had many great performances this season.”

Senior Zayne Kyser was the lone graduating member of the boys track team.

Hanning is also a graduating senior for the girls track team.

“Savannah had a rough start to her season with an injury that kept her out for a few weeks, but she ended strong by qualifying for the state track meet,” said Girls Track Coach Terri Welch. “She will be greatly missed next year. I have enjoyed coaching these girls this year in track. They are a great group of young ladies. They work hard and do whatever is asked of them. I am looking forward to coaching them next year.”

Four of Salem’s male athletes and one female athlete qualified for the state sectional track meet, with one narrowly missing out by a decision made on a very close photo finish that had to be reviewed several times for accuracy.

In addition to Hodges (pole vault), and Hanning (pole vault and discus), the other three athletes that moved on to sectionals were Logan Woolf and Jakob Happel in the high jump and Zak Eplin in the 400 meters.

The team also had two, second-place finishes and three, third-place finishes as a team in the invitational medal meets.

“The future of this team is very bright as long as they continue to work hard in the off season and continue to work hard in practice,” said McNamee. “Next year we will have the return of several key track members that missed the season due to injuries.”