Lakenheath's Chris Hayden defies gravity in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles during a high school track meet at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. Hayden took first with a time of 41.95 seconds. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Lakenheath's Chris Hayden defies gravity in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles during a high school track meet at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. Hayden took first with a time of 41.95 seconds. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Alconbury's Caleb Erickson finishes strong in the 400-meter dash event during a high school track meet at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. Erickson clocked in 54.26 seconds for first place. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Lakenheath's Aubri Butler throws the discus 95 feet, 5.5 inches for first place during a high school track meet at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Alconbury's Anna Downing throws a discus during a high school track meet at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. Downing finished third after throwing 82 feet, 2.5 inches. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
High school athletes begin the first lap of a 1,600-meter run during a track meet at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. Lakenheath's Dom Scifo beat his best time with a 4 minute, 45 second first place finish. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
SHAPE distance standout Holly Moser finishes the final lap in the 1,600-meter run during a high school track meet at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. Moser earned winning times of 5 minutes, 31 seconds in the 1,600 and 11:56 in the 3,200. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Lakenheath's Kobe Cox breaks away from teammate Deshawn Wilkerson in the 100-meter dash during a high school track meet at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. Cox clocked in at 11.18 seconds for first place. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
High school sprinters look to finish first in the 100-meter dash during a track meet at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. SHAPE runner Alexia Tarvis earned first place with a 13.21 second finish. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Sprinters from SHAPE and Brussels lead the pack in the 100-meter dash event during a high school track meet at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. SHAPE runner Alexia Tarvis earned first place with a 13.21 second finish. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Alconbury's Marrisa Kastler floats over a high jump bar set to 4 feet, 7 inches during a high school track meet at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. Kastler finished the day with second in high jump and first place in long jump and 200-meter dash. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
SHAPE athlete Mya Neals easily clears the bar for a 4-foot-7-inch high jump during a high school track meet at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. Neal finished first with a high jump of 4 feet, 9 inches. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Lakenheath's Ion Duenes leaps for 17 feet, 11.5 inches in the long jump event during a high school track meet at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. The Lancers are expecting to send 28 track athletes to compete in the DODEA European championships next weekend. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Brussels athlete Alparslan Sundseth pulls ahead in the 110-meter high hurdles during a high school track meet at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. Sundseth clocked in at 16.44 seconds for first place. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
RAF LAKENHEATH, England ― Track and field athletes gave their all Saturday in their last chance to qualify for the DODEA European championships during the last meet of the season.
It was just a typical day at the track for the Lancers, who finished first place in 17 events while hosting visiting teams from SHAPE, Brussels, Alconbury and Spangdahlem.
Lakenheath sprinters Kobe Cox, Deshawn Wilkerson and Chris Hayden left rivals in the dust as they raced against themselves in the 100-meter dash.
Cox took first in the 100 after finishing in 11.18 seconds with Wilkerson hot on his heels at 11.59.
The Lancers also earned first-place finishes in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 thanks to Dom Scifo and Andrew Riess.
Scifo clocked 2 minutes, 6 seconds in the 800 and his best time of 4:46 in the 1,600. The former sprinter said it helps running against faster competition.
“I’m the type of person who wants to chase them until I don’t have anything left,” Scifo said. “It drives me and makes me faster.”
SHAPE distance standout Holly Moser ran well ahead of the pack with a 5:31 in the 1,600 and 11:56 in the 3,200.
Spartans high jumper Mya Neal easily cleared 4 feet, 9 inches and said she’s trying for a 5-foot jump in the championships.
“It felt pretty easy,” Neal said.
Marissa Kastler earned first-place finishes for Alconbury in the 200 and long jump.
Brussels dominated in the girls’ 4x400 and 4x800 relays and 1,600 sprint medley relay.
Lakenheath’s Aubri Butler threw a discus for 95 feet, 5.5 inches for first place and will represent her school for the first time in the championships after throwing in stateside high schools for the past two years.
“I just expect to have fun and compete,” Butler said. “It’s really fun competing here.”
Lakenheath coach Brian Bent is expecting to send 28 from his team to the season-ending championships in Germany next weekend.
Twitter: @Howard_Stripes
