MEEKER | Meeker’s bus was loaded up with hardware after a successful 2024 Colorado State Track and Field Championship.
“The weekend is a big weekend, and I think it is important to just go be a part of it,” began head coach Hallie Blunt as she wrapped up the stellar season. “I first want to let all the kids that traveled with us how much I appreciate their hard work throughout the season.”
The Cowboys started things off right with Judd Harvey winning the shot put and Dawson Willey making the finals. Willey came into the meet ranked 17 and with another personal record throw he made it into the finals and finished 10th.
Harvey’s first throw was a season PR, 49 feet 10 inches, which sealed his spot in the final and gave him five more chances to try and throw 50-plus feet. The school record — 50 feet, 1 inch — was set in 1987. Harvey’s final throw was 50 feet 0.75 inches, just shy of a long-standing record.
“Dawson had a great season,” spoke Blunt about the state qualifying throwers. “Judd is a heck of an athlete and put in a ton of effort over the past four years. It was fun to see him throw 50 feet in the competition and win.”
While the throwers competed the girls’ 800 sprint medley relay took the track, they came in ranked 17th and were able to move up to 15th. The team was Ainsley Selle, Natalie Kracht and Addie Knowles.
The girls relay teams placed multiple times with PRs.
“We have mixed girls up on this team this season and it was fun to see Knowles get a four-second PR on her 400 split,” said Blunt of the medley team.
The Cowboys phenomenal performances kept coming with the girls 4×200 meter relay breaking the school record in the prelims with a 1 minute 48.42 seconds. The team was 0.2 seconds off the record at the league meet and knew they could beat it.
“Ellie Hossack, Adi Knowles, Taylor Garcia, and Ainsley Selle all ran so hard for each other and performed well under pressure placing fifth overall,” Blunt said.
The 4×800 meter relay ran a great race and was also very close to breaking the school record, just 0.2 seconds, when they ran another PR race. The team was Hossack, Turner, Garcia and Braydin Raley.
“That race takes guts and those four girls have them,” commented Blunt, “they ended up eighth in the state.”
Sam Hightower started Saturday morning with an outstanding performance in pole vault clearing 12 feet 9 inches and almost 13’3” to place third in the state.
“He is an amazing kid because he is so coachable, so humble, and gracious with everyone that helps him,” said Blunt of Hightower. “It was fun to see him have such a great season!”
The girls 4×100 meter relay was next to compete on Friday and they got it done with another PR to make the finals.
“They ran well in the finals and placed fifth by 0.02 seconds in what is such an exciting race every year,” commented Blunt.
Adi Selle did an amazing job in the 300-meter hurdles; Selle has been battling a hamstring injury and had only run the hurdles three times before state. Selle qualified with a late charge in the prelims then ran an incredible two-second PR to finish third in the state.
The girls 4×200 ran their finals Friday and competed well, ending up fifth in the state.
“The leadership of Ainsley and Hossack have shown this year is priceless and showed at this state meet,” said Blunt of the two seniors.
By TIFFANY JEHOREK | SPECIAL TO THE HERALD TIMES