MEEKER | The Meeker High School track and field team returned to Grand Junction, Colorado, this past weekend, competing April 4 at the Frank Woodburn Invitational, hosted by Palisade High School at Stocker Stadium.
Junior Tucker Chinn led the Cowboys with a fifth-place finish in the 300-meter hurdles, posting a time of 43.91 seconds. Chinn said his improvement this season has been driven by better cardio and focused technique.
“I think the biggest factor of improvement has been getting in better cardio shape with every week, which allows me to finish off this race strong,” Chinn said. “This race felt a lot easier than when I first ran it in Rifle. I definitely feel like my form and cardio are both much better now. I’ve specifically been working on my steps and blocks to the first two hurdles in practice to help make sure I get down my tempo and minimize stuttering. I’ve been competing against kind of the same guys each week, and being able to keep up with the leaders more and more each week has pushed me to do better each time I run. At this point in the season I feel like I am still building. I am yet to match or break my PR of 43.06 from last year at state and am hoping to eventually smash that PR by a lot.”
Freshman Jake Grieser placed eighth in the high jump, clearing 5 feet, 9 inches. In the pole vault, sophomore Holton Pelloni finished sixth at 8 feet, 6 inches, while freshman Corbin Grant placed ninth at 7 feet.
For the girls, the 4×800-meter relay team of senior Braydin Raley, junior Josey McClain, and freshmen Tinlie Strate and Midy Camargo placed third with a time of 10:45.29. McClain also placed ninth in the 800 meters in 2:35.60. Junior Josey McClain said the group showed resilience despite challenges.
“I feel like we all had some challenges that day but definitely came together in the end and cut some time off our original time,” McClain said. “This group is really something — we have so much potential and already have done so great. Working with them is definitely my favorite.”
McClain added that the relay team has high expectations moving forward.
“Our goals as a relay group are pretty big,” she said. “We already have done so good, especially with the two freshmen we brought into the relay team. We plan on competing at state and going for the gold while we are there.”
The 4×200-meter relay team of Norah Loar, McKenna Berthelson, Braydin Raley and Tacey Toon finished ninth in 1:55.92. McClain also placed ninth in the open 800 meters in 2:35.60.
Senior Rylee Sullivan finished ninth in the high jump at 4 feet, 7 inches. Sophomore Hailey Schwartz placed sixth in the triple jump with a mark of 31 feet, 1.25 inches.
Senior Addie Knowles led Meeker in the throwing events, placing second in the discus at 105 feet, 11 inches and third in the shot put at 30 feet, 1 inch. Freshman Raegan Clatterbaugh added a fifth-place finish in the discus at 95 feet, 3 inches.
The Cowboys will return to action this weekend in Glenwood Springs, with events starting at 9 a.m.
Josey McClain runs her leg of the 4×800-meter relay during the Frank Woodburn Invitational April 4 at Stocker Stadium in Grand Junction. McClain helped the Cowgirls place third with a time of 10:45.29. JARED HENDERSON PHOTO
