By The Hays Daily News

LAWRENCE -- Several local and area athletes competed strongly in the prestigious KU Relays at University of Kansas, a meet that has many top athletes from the Midwest.

Plainville junior Dalton Werner took fourth out of 28 competitors in the long jump with a leap of 22 feet, 2 1/4 inches.

Thomas More Prep-Marian junior Heather Ruder finished seventh out of 38 runners in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 5:10.70, her season-best time by .30 seconds. The top four runners broke the meet record of 4:58.04 set in 2004.

In the 3,200-meter run, Ruder ran 11:30.48, her season-best time by nearly 20 seconds. She finished 16th out of 18 runners. The top two runners broke the meet record of 10:44.08 set in 2002.

In the 800, Ruder finished 17th out of 36 runners with a time of 2:20.89, slightly off her season-best time.

Plainville senior Jameson Klein, a Fort Hays State University signee, took 11th out of 34 athletes in the shot put with a throw of 53 feet, a new career best. In the discus, Klein threw 152 feet and finished 13th out of 27.