Meeker track team continues its efforts to qualify for state

MEEKER I The regular track season is winding down, and the Meeker track team continues to improve, with the goal of qualifying as many athletes as possible for the 2015 Colorado State Track and Field Championships in Denver in less than three weeks. Meeker will compete in the Northwest League meet this Saturday in Rangely, then the Tiger Invitational in Grand Junction before the state meet the following week. “It was rainy and windy in Moffat County, but we were still able to move a couple of athletes up in the rankings,” head coach John Strate said of his team’s most recent meet in Craig. “We started the day strong with Sydney Hughes, Maggie Phelan, Julia Eskelson and Sierra Williams posting a time in the 4×800-meter relay that should qualify them for the state meet.” Coach Strate said Halle Ahrens was also able to move up her rankings in the 100-meter dash (13.18), and Jacob Henderson improved his time as well in the 110-meter high hurdles. “It has been nice to see Halle come back to form after being injured early in the season,” Strate said. “Jacob ran a career best of 16.61, to finish fourth, and this time basically guarantees him a spot at the state meet as it has him sitting in eighth place overall in 2A.” The Meeker girls’ 4×100, 4×200, 4×400 and 4×800 relay teams are “sitting comfortably in qualifying positions,” Coach Strate said. Hughes is also currently qualified in the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles as well as the long and triple jumps. Peyton Burke is currently qualified in the 100 hurdles and Jake Phelan is close to qualifying in the triple and long jumps. “Noah Overton has been in and out of qualifying position in both the throwing events all season,” Coach Strate said. “Noah helped his cause at Moffat County in the discus, throwing a career best of 119-10.5 and placing sixth.” “We have a boys’ 4×800 relay (team) fighting for a spot as they are currently sitting in the 18th spot (the top 18 times and distances qualify for the state meet),” Strate said. “This weekend, we head to Rangely for the league championship meet. Our girls’ team will see excellent competition here, as Paonia and Cedaredge are two of the teams to beat in 2A.”