Meeker girls’ track team places third in Cedaredge

MEEKER | The Meeker High School girls’ track team finished third last Saturday in Cedaredge, four points behind Paonia and Coal Ridge. Meeker’s girls and boys had success in Cedaredge.
“Things went well again for us in Cedaredge,” head track coach John Strate said. “Some of the best performances on the girls’ side were again led by our throwers.”
Megan Shelton set another personal best in the shot put with a throw of 36 feet 1/4 inch earning her second place and she finished fifth in the shot put, the same event teammate Sydnie Main finished second, while finishing fifth in the shot.
“Sydnie had a big day in the throws and she also made her debut in the high jump, clearing 4-5 to earn seventh place,” coach Strate said.
Strate said the girls’ relay teams also had “strong performances,” including a first place finish in the 4×400 relay, a second place finish in the 4×100 and fifth place finishes in the 4×800 and the 800 medley relays.
In the final event of the day, during a driving rain, the 4×400 team consisting of Gracie Bradfield, Sierra Williams, Maggie Phelan and Julia Eskelson won the relay by more than 10 seconds. Bradfield, Madi Russell, Peyton Burke and Loran Casias were on the second place 4×100 team, while Phelan, Casias, Russell and Burke ran on the 800 medley team. Eskelson, Williams, freshman Karlee Nielsen and Briar Meszaros finished fifth in the 4×800.
Bradfield finished second in the 100-meter dash and Eskelson had a “strong start in the mile,” according to coach Strate, where she finished second with a time of 6:11.
Coach Strate said freshman jumper Kirsten Brown placed fifth in the triple jump and eighth in the long jump, while teammate Tori Lasker, competing in her first track meet, placed eighth in the long jump and Julia Dinwiddie finished eighth in the 100-meter hurdles.
Meeker senior Austin Russell led the Cowboys with a first place finish in the 800-meter run and a second place finish in the 1,600-meter.
Coach Strate said senior Cole Brown also “had a big day,” earning a personal best and third place finish in the long jump with a leap of 19 feet, two inches. Brown also placed sixth in the 200-meter dash and eighth in the 100.
The Cowboys had several young sprinters win their heats, including Jorgen Stagg in the 100 and 200, while freshman classmates Andy Kracht and Jake Shelton both won their heats in the 100. Stagg, Kracht, Shelton and Brown all teamed up to finish seventh in the 4×100 relay.
“This Saturday, we will be hoping for some nice weather and fast times competing at Stocker Stadium in Grand Junction,” coach Strate said.