MEEKER | When the track team left town Friday it was five degrees in Meeker. By the time the track meet finished it was 29 degrees with a windchill of 15 degrees.
“Considering the start of the season was multiple weeks indoors, I think our kids did OK,” said assistant coach Kirk Hossack.
The Meeker track was only clear for just over a week to allow practice on it. While the school has an indoor track, the size does not lend itself to practicing handoffs, corners or even a straight 100 meters.
“We were only able to practice handoffs a couple times, but the relays did pretty good with what they have been able to work with,” Hossack said.
The field events were also struggling. Pole vault and high jump were totally unable to practice until enough snow melted they could access the mats. Once again the new school and forethought into its design allows the pole vaulters to practice inside as the gym has a built in box. Triple jump and long jump are a bit harder to practice inside, but the team still had some top placers in those competitions and up is the only way to go.
Shot was able to practice indoors, but not disc.
“We have only been practicing disc for a couple days,” said assistant coach Greg Cravens, “both shot and disc are hard to practice inside as the concrete ring feels totally different from the gym floor.”
Top eight placings and results from the 2023 Rifle High School Invitational are as follows:
Girls 3200 Meter Run 14 minutes 31.97 seconds, Brighton Bair, 5th Place, Finals
Girls 4X100 Meter Relay Ellie Hossack, Jayde Turner, Ainsley Selle, Adi Selle – 54.53 seconds, 4th
Girls 4X200 Meter Relay Reese Clatterbaugh, Natalie Kracht, Ainsley, Turner – 1 minute 59.67 seconds, 6th
Girls 800 Meter Sprint Medley Relay Hossack, Ainsley, Adi, Taylor Garcia – 2 minute 06.52 seconds, 5th
Girls 4X800 Meter Relay Bair, Celine Lozano, Haylee Steele, Kayla Scott – 13 minutes 07.61 seconds, 5th
Girls Triple Jump 31 feet 0.5 inches, Clatterbaugh, 3rd
Boys Pole Vault 11 feet 5 inches, Casey Brink, 1st
10’6”, Brendan Clatterbaugh, 2nd
Spring break was in full swing for the track team so not every trackster was present. The next track meet for Meeker High School is the one they will be hosting. This meet is scheduled for March 31.
By TIFFANY JEHOREK – Special to the Herald Times
