ShawneeDispatch.com

Behind the accomplished distance running of senior Bret Imgrund, the Shawnee Mission Northwest boys track and field team earned a second-place finish last weekend at Olathe East.

Imgrund, one of the best cross country runners in the state during the fall months, flexed his Spring muscles Saturday, winning both the 1,600- and 800-meter events. He was the only Cougar from either the boys or the girls squads to earn multiple victories during the meet and appears to be in top form as he heads to his weekend's 3,200 meter contest at the Kansas Relays in Lawrence.

Imgrund joined fellow Cougars Brian Havens, 300 hurdles; Daniel Beattie, pole vault; and Courtney Hines, high hurdles, in the winner's circle for the Cougars, who finished second only to Olathe East.

A couple of other notable finishes for Northwest included Hines' setting a lifetime best mark in the triple jump to take second in the event. Kyle Kotzman ran the open 400 in 57.9 seconds to take second and recorded a lifetime best split in the 800-meter relay.

On the girls' side, the team finished third but still had several eye-catching performances.

Allison Knoll (open 800), Sarah Nackley (3,200), Becca Roberts (shot put), and Christen Botteron (pole vault) each took second in their respective events, helping the Lady Cougars remain in contention throughout the meet.

Perhaps the best individual performance of the day came from Olathe East senior -- and KU basketball signee -- Danielle McCray. McCray took control of the field events, winning the trifecta of discus, triple jump and shotput to put away the women's title for the Hawks.

The Sunday after competition, Northwest coach Mike Cooper took time to reflect on his team's performance.

"I'm very happy with their performance," Cooper said of his two squads. "We're still at the sophomore-junior rebuilding stage, but we made progress. I think the boys team is going to be very competitive next year. There will be a new crop of distance guys, and they will be working really hard."

Next up for the Cougars is a trip to the Shawnee Mission District meet on Friday, April 21, as well as a showing by some at the Kansas Relays in Lawrence.