MEEKER I Although the recent weather has not been ideal for track meets, it won’t keep the Cowboys off the track, as they competed in Glenwood Springs on Saturday and will compete in Coal Ridge on Friday, then Rangely on Saturday.
“Well, the weather was much better in Glenwood than expected; it was cold and a little windy, but no snow,” Meeker head coach John Strate said. “Despite the chilly weather, we still had a few personal bests.”
Meeker junior Cole Brown had a personal best in the long jump, leaping 19-3.5, scoring team points with a sixth place finish.
“It is great to see his hard work the last couple of years pay off,” coach Strate said of Brown’s work ethic. “He’s dedicated in the weight room and on the track.”
Coach Strate said Brown’s classmate, Caleb Bradford,“continued his strong performances in the throws,” finishing fifth place in the shot, with a personal best put of 41-7. Bradford also scored team points with a fifth place finish in the discus, with a throw of 114-5.
Maggie Phelan also improved her best mark in the triple jump by more than a foot. Phelan finished sixth in the event with a hop, skip and jump of 32-3, putting her in the mix to qualify for the state meet.
Athletes must have one of the top 18 times or distances in an event to qualify for the state meet, and many are working towards it or trying to stay in the top 18.
Phelan, along with Julia Eskelson, Avery Watt and Sierra Williams, also placed sixth in the 4×800-meter relay while the boys’ 4×800-meter relay team finished fourth. The team is made up of Marshal Pool, Austin Russell, Clay Anderson and Josh Cochran.
Coach Strate said they will need to take “a pretty good chunk of time off to remain in the top 18.”
The girls’ 4×100 meters team, consisting of Loran Casias, Peyton Burke, Gracie Bradfield and Madi Russell, also had a “strong performance,” according to coach Strate.
“It was good to see Madi return to action after being out the last few weeks with an injury,” coach Strate said.
Meeker freshman Sydnie Main also continues to throw well, placing fourth in the discus and sixth in the shot put.
“She is in a fight to remain in the top 18 for the last few weeks of the regular season,” coach Strate said. “We didn’t do a lot of events this last weekend, as we have two back-to-back meets coming up this weekend.”
