MARION – Just prior to the last event at the Marion Night Invitation at Marion Harding High School, a fireworks display took to the air.
But, earlier in the night, AnneMarie Moses made her own fireworks.
The Lady Giants pole vaulter broke both the meet and her own Fremont Ross record, reaching a height of 12 feet, 2 inches, topping her own record by an inch and setting the meet mark by two inches.
Moses’ performances was the highlight of a meet that tested both teams with unfamiliar competition, designed to give the Little and Lady Giants a wider glimpse of the caliber of competition they may come across if they qualify for the state meet.
The Lady Giants finished sixth out of 15 teams, totaling 53 points, while the boys team compiled 37 points to place ninth.
Olivia DeRodes finished second in the high jump, reaching a height of 5-02. In the shot put, Olivia Baptista finished second with a throw of 34-05 and Emma Jahns took fourth with a distance of 31-08.
The boys team enjoyed a pair of quality performances by Jason Burling. Burling took third in the shot put (47-09) and sixth in the discus (121-11). Burling finished just behind teammate Mike Thomas, who reached a distance of 126-08, who placed fifth in the discus.
Pole vaulter Keaton Jordan cleared a height of 13 feet to finish third in the event.
Matt Kuyken has been under the weather, though that didn’t slow him down in the 800.
Kuyken posted a personal-best time of 1:57.28 to claim first-place in the event, the only first-place finish for the boys Friday night.
Fellow long-distance runner Ethan McClory ran a strong race in the 3200, clocking a time of 10:06.66, placing him second in the event.
The Lady Giant runners were led by McKela Elder. Elder placed second in the 1600 with a personal-best time of 5:31.30 and clocked 2:28.98 while taking third in the 800.
Elder also ran legs on the 4×800 (along with Madalyn Metcalf, Hayley Wilson and Mara Brown) and the 4×400 (with Metcalf, DeRodes and Ashtyn Schneider).
Janna Sutton rounded out the Lady Giants’ scoring by placing eighth in the 100 hurdles with a time of 17.36.
Ross’ track and field teams will travel to Toledo Central Catholic on Tuesday for a duel meet against the Irish before hosting the Little Giant Invitational next Saturday morning.
For more details, visit the Ross Sports Report.