Kayla Smith

Putting up top marks isn’t something foreign to Valley Heights Mustang junior, Kayla Smith as she has been doing so her whole athletic career and this year in track and field has been no different.

Last week Smith competed against some of the best across the Midwest at the annual KU Relays and posted a leap of 37’11.50 to place second out of 29 competitors. While earlier in the week at the Republic County Invite Smith earned three golds sprinting to the 100 meter dash win, while also leaping to victories in the long jump and triple jump.

In the three meets outside of the KU Relays Smith has claimed first place in all the events she has competed in winning the 100 and 200 meter dashes along with long jump and triple jump at both the Nemaha Central and Valley Heights Invite. Her best times in the 100 and 200 meter dash on the year sit at 12.40 and 26.34, while jumps of 17’10 and 38’01.50 are her best marks in the long and triple jumps, respectively.

Last year Valley Heights girls track team won the Class 2A State title and Smith was a key piece in the teams win as she won the 2A triple jump, while taking third in the 100 meter dash and long jump and fourth in the 200 meter dash as a sophomore. As a freshman Smith won the Class 1A triple jump and long jump State titles and finished fourth in the 100 meter dash.

Smith looks to continue her momentum this season and earn another trip to the State competition in Wichita and cap another great track season with more top performances.