Harper returns to State in two events

LYNDON -- Uniontown junior Shalina Harper will be the only Uniontown athlete at this year's State Track and Field Championships in Wichita as she qualified for two events out of Friday's Lyndon Class 2A Regional Meet.

Harper will be going to State for the third consecutive season. She was also the lone Eagle at State in 2014, when she finished 11th in javelin. She qualified in two events last season, the same ones in which she will participate this season.

Harper won the 800-meter run with a time of 2:32.78 seconds. Abby Sechrist of Hillsboro was second in 2:33.48.

Harper finished third in the 1,600 meters with a time of 5:42.23. Freshman Erin Topham of Elbing Berean Academy was the winner in 5:34.03 followed by sister Allison Topham in 5:41.37.

The top four finishers in each event advanced to State while the top six won medals. Uniontown had three other medal winners: Josh Wisely was fifth in the boys' 200 meters, Ben George was sixth in boys' high jump and Jimme Keller was sixth in the 400 meters. Their marks were not available.

Gavin Miller was a participant in discus. Although he did not place in the meet, he did throw a personal best of 102 feet even.

Both of Harper's events at State will take place on Saturday at Wichita State University's Cessna Stadium. The 1,600-meter run is scheduled for about 1:30 p.m. The 800 meters will run at approximately 5:10 p.m.