Truss Keeps Reaching New Heights

Dylan Truss is reaching new heights in his college pole vault career.

The freshman out of La Grange High School recently set personal bests in two consecutive weeks for the Sam Houston State University men’s track and field team.

He finished third in the pole vault at an April 8-9 meet, with an effort of 16 feet, 11.5 inches. He placed second in a meet two weeks prior.

Truss has been changing poles as he progresses.

“I’ve been going up quite a few poles,” he said, noting that he used a pole nine inches longer and about 10 pounds heavier for his then-April 2 personal best.

During the indoor season, he scored at the Western Athletic Conference championship. He tied for seventh with an effort of 15-10. “I just kept coming down on the bar,” he said about his reason for not placing higher.

He said he has been focusing on his running approach to the bar, trying to increase his speed. “We’ve slowly been gaining speed,” he said.

He practices a short approach two days a week and a long one two other days a week, he said, and does 10 to 20 vaults during practices, depending on the day. The day before a meet, he said “it’s a super easy” practice because he concentrates on stretching out.

“I’ve been pretty happy with the progress,” Truss said. “I want to see what comes later in meets.”

More men’s track and field

Graduate student Cason Brown of Angelo State University finished second in the discus throw at an Angelo State meet. The Schulenburg High graduate’s toss traveled 167-9.

Softball

Kyndal Kutac hit .212 in 31 games for Sam Houston State. The La Grange alumna had one home run and 12 runs batted in.

Also from La Grange, graduate student Hatti Moore batted .141 in 34 games for University of Missouri. The catcher, who had three home runs and eight RBIs, had a .987 fielding percentage in a team-high 234 chances.

Women’s track and field

Krissalynn Henderson ran the second leg of Dodge City Community College’s winning 4-by-400-meter relay at a Southwestern College meet. She is a La Grange High graduate.

Savannah College of Art and Design’s Monserrat De Santiago scored in the 800- and 1,500-meter runs by placing third in each at a Newberry College meet. She competed for La Grange.

Send updates about area college athletes to Barbara Boxleitner at jdanddoc@gmail.com.