Feddersen, Krebasch set records.
By Mike Miazga
Correspondent
The Fenton girls track team had a strong April.
The Bison placed second at the Montini Invitational and then took third at the Leyden event. Fenton followed that up by winning its own Bison Invitational and then taking first in a Metro Suburban Conference triangular meet last week.
Individually, Hanna Matuszewski won the long jump at Leyden with a mark of 16-1.
At the Bison event, Cassidy Feddersen won the pole vault with a new meet record of 8-6. Matuszewski won the 100 in 12.5, while Sarah Mason won the triple jump with a mark of 34-10. Katrina Krebasch won the high jump at 5-0.
Indoors earlier in the season, Krebasch broke the school record in the pole vault with a leap of 10-6.
Fenton coach Frank Kekstadt noted between the team’s two most recent meets, the Bison Invitational and the MSC tri-meet (where Fenton did not enter in five events), it set 75 individual personal records.
“That indicates to me that we are showing consistent improvement across all events,” he said. “It also means we are healthy and strong going into the MSC championship meet (Friday at Fenton).”
Kekstadt noted the 3,200 relay team has remained the same since the indoor season and has shown steady improvement. Kekstadt pegs the 400 relay as the team’s strongest, placing in the top three of all Fenton’s meets this year. The 1,600 relay ran 4:24 at the Bison event, which is the best time Kekstadt has seen in five years. The coach said the 800 relay team is still a work in progress in terms of personnel. “We have to decide if we are going to use the same girls as the 4-by-100 or use some younger girls to fill spots which will open the 200 dash for Hanna Matuszewski and Sarah Mason, our top speedsters,” he explained.
Kekstadt, in his 10th season as head coach, has seen Fenton once again excel in the field events. “Since I have been head coach our strength always has been our field events,” he said. “I always want our most talented girls to try field events. This year is no exception—we have very talented girls in the field events. We score the majority of our points in the triple jump, pole vault, high jump and long jump.”
Kekstadt also cited recent strong efforts from sophomore Ruth Kirkwood and senior Agnes Gasior. “Ruth has PRs in every long- and mid-distance event this year,” he said. “I don’t think I have had a girl improve so much over such a short period of time in so many running events. She is a versatile runner that allows me to put her in every distance event. This makes the lineup very competitive.
“Agnes is a selfless leader who has transitioned during the outdoor season from a mid-distance runner to a competitive thrower. She knows the team is first and I rely on her for leadership and for being a great role model for the rest of the team.”
Fenton is looking forward to Friday’s MSC meet. “The season has gone by so fast and the showdown with Glenbard South has finally arrived,” said Kekstadt. “Last year we were the favorites and ended up in second place by one point. This year we are the underdog. We are focused on breaking personal records and demonstrating excellence in athletics.”
