Regional Radio Senior Spotlight – Track and Field: DeSoto

——————————
DeSoto Dragons:
——————————

Emma Portell

Portell was a returning jumper and sprinter for the DeSoto track and field team this spring. Her career bests were 35-2.5 in the triple jump, 16-8 in the long jump, and 4-6 in the high jump. Portell was the 2018 JCAA Triple Jump Conference Champ, was All-Conference in jumps three times and was All-District in jumps three times. She was also a member of the conference champion 4x100m relay in 2018 and 2019, was All-District with the 4x100m relay team in 2018, and was on the All-District 4x200m relay team in 2019. Portell plans to attend Southeast Missouri State University in the fall to study environmental science.

Haley Johnson

Johnson was a returning jumper and sprinter for the Dragons track and field team this spring. Her career bests were 4-10 in the high jump, 13.53 in the 100m, 28.35 in the 200m, and 14-9 in the long jump. Johnson was a member of the Conference Champion 4x100m relay team and the 4x200m relay team last season. She was also on the state-qualifying 4x200m relay team in 2019. Johnson was also All-Conference in high jump in 2018 and was All-District with the 4x100m relay team in 2018. She plans to attend Drury University in the fall to study psychology.

Lillie Kaempfe

Kaempfe was a returning distance runner for the DeSoto track and field team this spring. Her career bests were 2:36.32 in the 800m, 5:35.38 in the 1600m, and 11:59.92 in the 3200m. Kaempfe was named All-Conference three times – once for the mile in 2019, and twice for the two-mile in 2017 and 2019. She was also named Al-District in the two-mile in 2017 and was All-District in the 4x800m relay in 2017 and 2019. Kaempfe was also tabbed All-Conference for the 4x800m relay team in 2018 and 2019 and was a member of the Conference Champion 4x800m relay team in 2017. She plans to run cross country at Missouri State University in the fall while studying psychology.

Lily Kirk

Kirk was a returning thrower for the Dragons track and field team this spring. Her career bests were 69-3 in the discus, 21-9 in the shot put, and 61-0.5 in the javelin. Kirk will be wrestling at Indiana Tech next in the fall where she will study forensics.

Jacquelyn O’Harver

O’Harver was joining the DeSoto track and field team for the first time this spring after being a big part of the school’s cross country program over the past few years. She will be running cross country collegiately at the College of the Ozarks and will study secondary education chemistry.

Interview with DeSoto Girls Head Coach – Terry Frank: