BonnerSprings.com

Depth development is the primary goal of the Bonner Springs track team this season as the Braves look to surround twin brothers Jonathan and Jeremy Walker with a talented cast.

If that plan works, the Braves could improve on their runner-up finish at last year’s Class 5A state championships.

The Braves took their first step forward on Friday at the Baldwin Invitational. Despite a fourth-place finish for the boys in the team standings, BSHS coach Jim Mitchell was pleased with his team’s overall showing.

“I was very proud of our performances (on Friday),” Mitchell said. “It was a wakeup call for some. We got to see what our young talent is going to be like, and we liked what we saw. It also was a chance for some of our guys to really see what kind of shape they were really in.”

According to Mitchell, Jonathan Walker had a great meet. He finished first in the 110-meter hurdles, first in the long jump, second in the 200 and was a member of the 400-meter relay team that finished first.

His brother Jeremy managed a second place finish in the 100 in addition to the relay performance.

Freshman Dedric Johnson finished seventh in the 400 and fellow freshman Michael Waite finished fifth in the 800. Cross Country standout Brooks Ballou, a junior, turned in a solid sixth-place finish in the 3,200.

Junior Jake Barren finished fourth in the shot put and fifth in the discus throw.

The girls finished 12th but had some good individual performances. Sophomore Bridgett Bradley easily won the discus throw and sophomore Josie Freeby had top-10 finishes in the shot put and javelin.

BSHS will travel to Basehor on Thursday to get some more on-track experience at the Bobcat Relays.

“There will be a lot of league (Kaw Valley League) competition there at Basehor,” Mitchell said. “We are going to see how we stack up among other teams and see if we have a shot at competing for league. It is going to be really hard for us to win league.”

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