Cowboys send 10 to state track

phmktrack 2 — Toby Casias won the 100 and 200 at the regional meet and also qualified for the state tournament on two relay teams. Photo by Ellen Nieslanik

The Cowboy track and field team will send seven boys and three girls to compete in the 2011 Colorado State Track and Field State Championships, starting today in JeffCo Stadium in Denver.

The three-day track meet will feature athletes in all five classifications. Both the girls’ and the boys’ teams finished second to Paonia teams last weekend in the Northwest Regional meet held in Stocker Stadium in Grand Junction.

“As a coaching staff we were very excited about our kids’ performances this last weekend,” head coach Kris Casey said.

Meeker senior Alema Atoafa set a personal record in the long jump, winning the event and qualifying for the state meet. Aly Ridings, Kathryn Doll and Katie Morgan all had PRs in the triple jump. Doll will join Atoafa at the state meet. She currently has the best triple jump in 2A and also won the long jump at the regional meet and qualified in the 100 and 200 meter dashes.

Bailey Atwood had a PR in the discus and qualified for the state meet in the discus and shot put, where she finished second in both events at the regional meet. Jordan Brown was the final girl to qualify for the state meet in the high jump.

Coach Casey said J.C. Henderson and Mariah Jensen had PRs in the open 400 and Krissie Harman also had a PR in the 400, “then beat it again on Saturday.” Ridings ran the 300 hurdles for the first time and placed 11th and Tala Atoafa had a PR in the same event. Bailey Mantle, Willis Begaye, Laura Fonseca and Jordan Smith all had PRs in the 800, as did Jake Boesch in the 3,200 run. Boesch also qualified for the state meet in the 1,600. Casey said the girls’ medley relay team consisting of Adrienne Wix, Brayden Bastian, Taylor Ahrens and Harman had PRs Saturday.

“Even though all of these kids did not qualify for state, they ended their season very strong and made huge improvements,” Casey said.

Junior speedster Toby Casias qualified for the state meet and won the 100 and 200 at the regional meet. Casias is also on the 4×100 and 4×200 state-qualifying relay teams. Casias will be passing the baton with seniors Ryan Wix, Jake Nieslanik and Jared Frantz in the 4×100 and freshman Kevin Ely takes Wix’s place in the 4×200.

Wix also qualified in the discus and shot, Nielanik will race against Casias in the 100 and 200 and Frantz also qualified for the state meet in the open 400.

“Again, we are really proud of all of the kids, those who qualified and those who did not,” Casey said. “This week we will be working on hand-off for the boys relays and specific drills with the jumpers. We are excited to take this bunch of kids to state.”

By Bobby [email protected] I The Cowboy track and field team will send seven boys and three girls to compete in the 2011 Colorado State Track and Field State Championships, starting today in JeffCo Stadium in Denver. The three-day track meet will feature athletes in all five classifications. Both the girls’ and the boys’ teams finished second to Paonia teams last weekend in the Northwest Regional meet held in Stocker Stadium in Grand Junction.“As a coaching staff we were very excited about our kids’ performances this last weekend,” head coach Kris Casey said. Meeker senior Alema Atoafa set a personal record in the long jump, winning the event and qualifying for the state meet. Aly Ridings, Kathryn Doll and Katie Morgan all had PRs in the triple jump. Doll will join Atoafa at the state meet. She currently has the best triple jump in 2A and also won the long jump at the regional meet and qualified in the 100 and 200 meter dashes.Bailey Atwood had a PR in the discus and qualified for the state meet in the discus and shot put, where she finished second in both events at the regional meet. Jordan Brown was the final girl to qualify for the state meet in the high jump.Coach Casey said J.C. Henderson and Mariah Jensen had PRs in the open 400 and Krissie Harman also had a PR in the 400, “then beat it again on Saturday.” Ridings ran the 300 hurdles for the first time and placed 11th and Tala Atoafa had a PR in the same event. Bailey Mantle, Willis Begaye, Laura Fonseca and Jordan Smith all had PRs in the 800, as did Jake Boesch in the 3,200 run. Boesch also qualified for the state meet in the 1,600. Casey said the girls’ medley relay team consisting of Adrienne Wix, Brayden Bastian, Taylor Ahrens and Harman had PRs Saturday.“Even though all of these kids did not qualify for state, they ended their season very strong and made huge improvements,” Casey said.Junior speedster Toby Casias qualified for the state meet and won the 100 and 200 at the regional meet. Casias is also on the 4×100 and 4×200 state-qualifying relay teams. Casias will be passing the baton with seniors Ryan Wix, Jake Nieslanik and Jared Frantz in the 4×100 and freshman Kevin Ely takes Wix’s place in the 4×200.Wix also qualified in the discus and shot, Nielanik will race against Casias in the 100 and 200 and Frantz also qualified for the state meet in the open 400.“Again, we are really proud of all of the kids, those who qualified and those who did not,” Casey said. “This week we will be working on hand-off for the boys relays and specific drills with the jumpers. We are excited to take this bunch of kids to state.”

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