Lady Gladiators perform at top levels during Grandview track meet

Image: I can fly: Italy Girls’ Track & Field soars high in Grandview — The Lady Gladiators pictured above are: Left corner Breyanna Beets competes in the 800 meter run. Right corner Jimesha Reed holds the block for Jameka Copeland during the 100 meter dash. Top left Nikki Brashear places second in the shot put. Top right Kaitlyn Rossa leads the pack in the varsity girls 800 meter run.

I can fly: Italy Girls’ Track & Field soars high in Grandview — The Lady Gladiators pictured above are: Left corner Breyanna Beets competes in the 800 meter run. Right corner Jimesha Reed holds the block for Jameka Copeland during the 100 meter dash. Top left Nikki Brashear places second in the shot put. Top right Kaitlyn Rossa leads the pack in the varsity girls 800 meter run.

Image: Ready to throw — Meet the IHS discuss team: Kaytlyn Bales, Alyssa Richards, coach Heather Richters and Jimesha Reed.

Ready to throw — Meet the IHS discuss team: Kaytlyn Bales, Alyssa Richards, coach Heather Richters and Jimesha Reed.

Image: Nikki places — Nikki Brashear places fourth in the shot-put at Grandview.

Nikki places — Nikki Brashear places fourth in the shot-put at Grandview.

Image: Drenda and Imke — The discus would not be an event without Drenda Burk’s participation as she poses for a picture with track teammate, Imke Klindworth. There were no innocent bystanders harmed during Burk’s throw.

Drenda and Imke — The discus would not be an event without Drenda Burk’s participation as she poses for a picture with track teammate, Imke Klindworth. There were no innocent bystanders harmed during Burk’s throw.

Image: Reed enters circle — Italy’s Jimesha Reed let’s it fly during the discus event.

Reed enters circle — Italy’s Jimesha Reed let’s it fly during the discus event.

Image: Getting better and better — Alyssa Richards showed tremendous improvement throughout as she competed in the discus for the first time.

Getting better and better — Alyssa Richards showed tremendous improvement throughout as she competed in the discus for the first time.

Image: Not an event — But it should be! Kaytlyn Bales summersaults her way to the field events.

Not an event — But it should be! Kaytlyn Bales summersaults her way to the field events.

Image: Threemendous — Kaitlyn Rossa, Breyanna Beets and Bailey Bumpus are enjoying competing at the Grandview Zebra Relays.

Threemendous — Kaitlyn Rossa, Breyanna Beets and Bailey Bumpus are enjoying competing at the Grandview Zebra Relays.

Image: Fun in the sun — Jameka Copeland disrupts Kendra Copeland while she stretches.

Fun in the sun — Jameka Copeland disrupts Kendra Copeland while she stretches.

Image: Stepping it up — Ryisha Copeland, Kendra Copeland, Jameka Copeland and Sierra Harris get ready to run.

Stepping it up — Ryisha Copeland, Kendra Copeland, Jameka Copeland and Sierra Harris get ready to run.

Image: Megan pitches in — Softball pitching ace, Megan Richards, spent the meet as manager for Italy’s girls.

Megan pitches in — Softball pitching ace, Megan Richards, spent the meet as manager for Italy’s girls.

Image: Harder than it looks — Coach Heather Richters instructs Kendra Copeland and Sierra Harris while they work on their handoffs.

Harder than it looks — Coach Heather Richters instructs Kendra Copeland and Sierra Harris while they work on their handoffs.

Image: In the lead — Practice pays off as Sierra Harris passes the baton to Kendra Copeland during the 400 meter relay. Harris, Copeland, Jameka Copeland and Ryisha Copeland finished first in the event with a time of 55.43.

In the lead — Practice pays off as Sierra Harris passes the baton to Kendra Copeland during the 400 meter relay. Harris, Copeland, Jameka Copeland and Ryisha Copeland finished first in the event with a time of 55.43.

Image: Owning the moment — Kendra Copeland, Sierra Harris, Jameka Copeland and Ryisha Copeland celebrate their 1st place finish in the 400 meter relay.

Owning the moment — Kendra Copeland, Sierra Harris, Jameka Copeland and Ryisha Copeland celebrate their 1st place finish in the 400 meter relay.

Image: Pre-race nerves — Breyanna Beets overcame her pre-race nervousness to finish in 6th place during the 800 meter run, earning 1 impressive point for team Italy.

Pre-race nerves — Breyanna Beets overcame her pre-race nervousness to finish in 6th place during the 800 meter run, earning 1 impressive point for team Italy.

Image: Strong start — Breyanna Beets lead the entire first lap around the track during the 800 meter run but eventually slowed her pace and finished in 6th place.

Strong start — Breyanna Beets lead the entire first lap around the track during the 800 meter run but eventually slowed her pace and finished in 6th place.

Image: Setting the pace — Italy’s Kaitlyn Rossa leads the varsity girls’ 800 meter run early but eventually settles for 2nd place.

Setting the pace — Italy’s Kaitlyn Rossa leads the varsity girls’ 800 meter run early but eventually settles for 2nd place.

Image: Pushing each other — Jimesha Reed shouts encouragement to friend and lone Italy varsity girls’ teammate, Kaitlyn Rossa, to help Rossa finish the 1600 meter run strong.The pair combined for 24 total points and finished in 7th place out of nine schools.

Pushing each other — Jimesha Reed shouts encouragement to friend and lone Italy varsity girls’ teammate, Kaitlyn Rossa, to help Rossa finish the 1600 meter run strong.The pair combined for 24 total points and finished in 7th place out of nine schools.

Image: How it’s done — Taylor Turner takes 1st place, Bailey Bumpus takes 2nd place and Imke Klindworth finishes in 4th place during the 100 meter hurdles.

How it’s done — Taylor Turner takes 1st place, Bailey Bumpus takes 2nd place and Imke Klindworth finishes in 4th place during the 100 meter hurdles.

Image: Ashley takes off — Italy’s Ashely Harper, on the left, competes in the 100 meter dash and eventually earns 5th place overall in the event.

Ashley takes off — Italy’s Ashely Harper, on the left, competes in the 100 meter dash and eventually earns 5th place overall in the event.

Image: Courtney Russell — The newest Lady Gladiator, Courtney Russell, finished 5th in the 400 meter run with a time of 1.12.34 and earns 2-points for team Italy.

Courtney Russell — The newest Lady Gladiator, Courtney Russell, finished 5th in the 400 meter run with a time of 1.12.34 and earns 2-points for team Italy.

Image: Gotcha! — Lady Gladiator track star, Ryisha Copeland, is taken by surprise by the paparazzi.

Gotcha! — Lady Gladiator track star, Ryisha Copeland, is taken by surprise by the paparazzi.

Image: Tired but proud — Ryisha Copeland, Bailey Bumpus, Taylor Turner and Sierra Harris finished in 4th place in the 1600 meter relay and Italy’s JV girls finished second overall during the Grandview Zebra Relays.

Tired but proud — Ryisha Copeland, Bailey Bumpus, Taylor Turner and Sierra Harris finished in 4th place in the 1600 meter relay and Italy’s JV girls finished second overall during the Grandview Zebra Relays.

Image: Anna can fly — Anna Viers embodies the spirit of the Italy Lady Gladiators’ athletic program.

Anna can fly — Anna Viers embodies the spirit of the Italy Lady Gladiators’ athletic program.

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