Shorthanded Ladue Runs at University City

The Ladue track team features several individuals who are big point makers in major meets.

Unfortunately, some of those standouts were missing Saturday at the Charlie Beck Invitational at University City.

Samantha Levin and Montinae Roye were running at the prestigious Arcadia Invitational in California, which is one of the premier events in the United States. Other runners, including Fletcher Coates, were taking ACT tests.

Nonetheless, there were some individual highlights for the Rams in the 16-team meet.

"The major players we need to compete at the state level had good days today," Ladue coach Keith Harder said.

Senior distance runner Drew Padgett had an outstanding day, winning a pair of events. Padgett won the 1,600-meter run in 4:23 and the 3,200-meter run in 9:41.

Senior Jocelyn Todd and junior Jehu Chesson were also individual champions.

Todd captured the 1,600-meter run, winning in 5:20 while Chesson won the 300-meter hurdles in :39.2.

Another individual highlight for the Rams was the second place finish in the 800-meter run by Emily Warner. The junior, who is running track for the first time after competing in soccer, ran a 2:20.

Ladue also had three champions in the junior varsity portion of the tournament.

Sophomore Taylor Robinson won both of the throwing events. She threw a 34-8 in the shot put and a 102 in the discus.

Sophomore Sean Whitley captured the championship in the long jump (18-6) while sophomore Adam Koenig won the pole vault (11-0).

"It was a hot day and the competition was very good," Harder said. "I thought the effort was great all day."

Harder now looks forward to seeing how his full team will fare in a big meet. That will happen this week as the Rams will travel to Parkway Central for the Henle Holmes Meet Thursday and Friday.