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Injuries continue to hamper the Marion-Franklin High School boys track and field team and they likely cost the Red Devils an opportunity to be a serious contender for the City League championship.

The Red Devils played host to the City meet on May 12 and 14 and scored 43 points to finish fifth behind Brookhaven (94), Whetstone (73), East (71) and Independence (71). Rounding out the standings were Walnut Ridge (40), Mifflin (33), Eastmoor Academy (30), West (20), Northland (16), Centennial (11), Beechcroft (6), Linden-McKinley (6), Africentric Secondary (0), Briggs (0) and South Urban Academy (0).

But coach Jerry Mounts believes his team would have challenged Brookhaven for the title if it had been healthy.

"We figure we gave away 20 to 25 points because of the injuries we have and you can't do that in a championship meet," Mounts said.

Most of the injuries pertain to muscle strains, mainly pulled groins and hamstrings.

"I think it's more dehydration than anything," Mounts said. "I thought our team competed really well, but I don't think we did a good job getting water into the kids two days before the meet, even though we preached that to the kids."

The only Marion-Franklin athlete to win an event was junior Keith Massey in the 100 meters (10.89 seconds). Placing second were senior Nate Lewis in the 400 (season-best 51.4), junior Antoine Roberts in the high jump (5 feet, 10 inches) and the 400 relay of sophomore Demarco Steele, junior Alex Daniels, Roberts and Massey (43.3). Junior Dylan Lee was third in the discus (season-best 126-10).

"We had some good performances, but the meet went good and bad, I guess," Mounts said. "We had 43 points through 12 events and were looking pretty good, but we didn't score in the last five events."

The girls team scored only 18 points in the City meet to finish ninth behind Eastmoor (131), Northland (85), Whetstone (84), Brookhaven (42), Centennial (38), West (33), East (27) and Independence (19). Rounding out the standings were Beechcroft (12), Africentric (10), Mifflin (9), Walnut Ridge (8), Briggs (4), Linden (0) and South (0).

"We didn't score many points and we only placed in eight events," coach Lenny Ball said. "We worked hard, but we just couldn't compete with the girls from Eastmoor and the other top athletes in the City."

Marion-Franklin did not win any events. Its highest finisher was sophomore Davone Hutchinson, who placed third in the 300 hurdles (49.1).

Placing fifth for the Red Devils were junior Stephanie Foster in both the high jump (5 feet) and 100 hurdles (16.9) and junior Aisha Garrett in both the long jump (15-7) and the 1,600 relay (4:29). Finishing sixth were freshman Shanessa Lunsford in the 400 (1:04), the 800 relay (1:50.9) and the 3,200 relay (11:40).

"We just don't have that burner or two that you need to take you over the top," Ball said. "But we have a lot of things to build on."

Meanwhile, both teams competed in the Division I district 2 meet last Tuesday, last Wednesday and last Saturday at Hilliard Davidson. The top four finishers in every event advanced to the regional Thursday and Saturday at Davidson.