MEEKER | State track was thwarted by Mother Nature and a strong winter storm that moved into the region Thursday, but not before some of the tracksters were able to compete in beautiful 89 degree and sunny weather.
“Our kids are so versatile and easy going,” commented head coach Hallie Blunt, “they rolled with the punches and really it was good for the runners to give their legs another day’s rest.”
Thursday Zagar Brown and Zach Eskelson took 11th and 12th respectively in shot put, with throws that in 3A would have made them to the podium, but in 2A multiple throwers threw over 50 feet.
The 100 meter prelims on Thursday for the boys found Kelton Turner outside of finals by 0.003 seconds.
“Kelton is one of our senior leaders on the team,” said Blunt, “he has been injured and he wanted to run in the open 100 to see if he leg would hold, he didn’t want to jeopardize the 4×100 meter relay for his teammates if he wasn’t competing at full capacity.”
Also competing Thursday were the boys and girls 4×200 meter relay, while they didn’t make the finals, they both set personal records, the girls medley relay also took nearly three seconds off of their qualifying time and the girls 4×800 meter relay took five seconds off of their time.
Jayden Overton was the final individual competitor on Thursday in the 100 meter hurdles, she didn’t make it to finals, but she did set a personal record.
When Friday morning came, the weather had made a major shift to cold and rain, and barely up into the foothills of Denver, it had turned to snow, and CHSAA postponed all events Friday with hopes of being able to run on Saturday. By Saturday morning some of the metro area had received 15 inches of snow, but CHSAA decided the track would be ready by two and the meet commenced at 2:10 pm with an altered schedule.
The boys pole vaulted first and Casey Brink took fifth, Turner took eighth, and Owen Hanneman was just off of the podium in 11th. Aspen Merrifield was the only lady Cowboy in pole vault, and her event went well past eight o’clock into a very cold evening, she made it to the podium with a height of eight feet eight inches and took eighth place.
Both the boys and girls 4×100 meter relays ran Saturday, and both teams made it to finals. For the girls the team was Ellie Hossack, Ainsley Selle, Aspen Merrifield, and Sarah Kracht and for the boys Porter Hossack, Connor Blunt, Eskelson, and Turner. The boys broke the school record on Saturday.
Sunday, slightly warmer, was another successful day for the Cowboys. Hailey Knowles, first out of the gate, took sixth in discus. The girls 4×100 relay made it to the podium taking fifth and the boys’ relay took third, and for the second time at the meet, broke the school record.
The final event of the day for Meeker was the girls 4×400 meter relay of Jayde Turner, Addie Selle, Ainsley, and Merrifield. Another great race, taking time off and setting a personal record, the girls made it to the podium in eighth place.
As teams neither the boys or girls placed in the top 10, but it was a successful season despite the adversities at the state meet.
“The kids competed well, I got many compliments on how well behaved they are, I am very proud of them and already looking forward to next season,” wrapped-up Blunt
By TIFFANY JEHOREK – Special to the Herald Times
