By ALEXANDER SIMONE

Staff writer

Marion track and field is excelling at jumping events this year. The Warriors showed their worth again Thursday at the Halstead Invitational, with four athletes placing top-three in jumping events.

Anne Baliel added another top finish in pole vault, with Michaela Regnier followed in third. The duo has placed first, second, or third in three meets.

Seniors Emmy Hess and Noah Dalrymple also placed well in their respective events. Hess placed third in the girls long jump, with her jump of 15-feet-6-inches ¾ of an inch further than the previous meet. Dalrymple matched his personal best of 6-feet-2-inches in high jump, and took second place for the third meet in a row.

The distance events were another strong suit for Marion at the invitational. Heidi Grimmett won the girls 1600-meter with a scorching 5:51.17, her first-career win on the oval.

Colton Mercer rounded out the top three in the boys 800-meter with a 2:09.11, but came within a step of second place. Thursday’s time is two seconds faster than his previous best from the Marion Relays.

Girls top finishers: 4-by-100-meter, fifth place, 57.59 seconds; 4-by-400-meter, fifth place, 4:26.34; long jump, Emmy Hess third place, 15-feet-6-inches; pole vault, Anne Baliel first place, 9-feet-6-inches, Michaela Regnier third place 8-feet-6-inches; Heidi Grimmett first place 5:51.17 1600-meter.

Boys top finishers: high jump, Noah Dalrymple second place, 6-feet-2-inches; 800-meter, Colton Mercer third place, 2:09.11.