Fast Start|Blue Springs boys and girls track and field teams begin season at UCM relays.

By Jake Singleton
The Journal Staff
It was a good beginning to the season for the Blue Springs boys track and field team on Monday at the University of Central Missouri relays.Wildcat sophomore Jordan Dodd and senior Evan McCray finished second and third, respectively, in the 400-meter dash. Dodd's time of 51.08 and McCray's time of 51.96 were only bettered by Raytown South's Maurice Mitchell's meet-record time of 48.88. McCray earned all-state honors last year in the 400.Blue Springs senior Derwin Hall finished fourth in the 55 meter dash (6.68) and Dustin Burleson finished fifth (8.16) in the 55 meter hurdles. Junior Drew Matthews finished third in the 800 (2:08.20) and senior Philip Hickman took fourth in the one-mile (4:50.52).The Wildcats' defending state champion 1,600 relay team, which consisted of senior returners Carlos Anderson, Donnie Prather and McCray, took second (3:35.20) to Kansas City Central (3:33.80)."We hope to defend our district championship and will be in hot pursuit of a (Suburban Big Seven) conference championship," said Wildcat first-year head coach Joseph Cusack. "If we can get through the season healthy, we believe it could be a good one."While the district championship boys got off to a good start, the Blue Springs girls track and field team, who finished with the school's highest ever state placement last year finishing third, found out what life is like without last year's core."We lost a lot of talent with Bridget Kleine, Trista Elmore and Caitlin Laskowski graduating," said Wildcat head coach Jennifer Reeder. "I believe we were so successful last year because of the core of our team was so strong. Our theme this year is, 'Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success.'"The Wildcats had four top-five individual finishes at the University of Central Missouri Relays and one top-two finish in the relays.The Wildcats' Mauri Lane took third in the 55 meter run (7.55), Melissa Fuerst finished second in the one-mile (5:40.15), Gabby Lovelace took fifth in the high jump (4-feet-8 inches) and Allison Harold finished fifth in the long jump (13-3.5)."Lane really made some noise at the state level last year and I expect her to use that experience to show the other girls on the team that hard work and persistence does pay off," Reeder said. "I look forward to Fuerst being successful in the distance events and to keep the standard high where Caitlin left it last year."Blue Springs' 800 relay team, which won state last year with Lane and Brittany Thomas returning, finished second (1:51.10) to Raytown South (1:49.70), as Trista Elmore and Bridget Kleine filled the other two voids on the team. The Wildcats also finished sixth in the 1,600 relay (4:34.60).Blue Springs' Frances Veneble cleared 7-6 in the pole vault to finish eighth and round out the Wildcats' top-10 finishes.