Meeker Sports, MHS Track & Field, Sports

MHS track team opens season in Rifle; returns 10 state placers

MEEKER | The Meeker High School track teams competed for the first time this season in Rifle last Friday and performed well, winning three individual events. One relay earned top honors for the girls. After a successful season last year, more than 50 boys and girls are out for the team this season. The team has been practicing on their new track and they have even revived an old event, the pole vault, this season.
“We are really excited about our new facility and adding pole vault this season,” Meeker head coach John Strate said. “With the returning state qualifiers and placers from last year, as well as some new additions, we should have a lot more depth on our girls’ relays.”
The Cowboys only graduated one senior (Marshal Pool) from last year’s team and returns 16 with state track experience, including 10 state placers.
Seniors Maggie Phelan, Madison Russell, Loran Casias and junior Sierra Williams all return after setting a school record last year in the 800-meter medley relay and placing ninth at the state meet. Gracie Bradfield, Peyton Burke, Halle Ahrens, Avery Watt, Julia Eskelson, Caleb Bradford and Austin Russell also earned spots on the pedestal at the state meet.
Megan Shelton, Sydnie Main, Cole Brown, Josh Cochran and Tannen Kennedy will return with state experience and some already put it to good use in Rifle.
Meeker thrower Shelton won the shot put and Main won the discus in their first meet of their sophomore year, while classmate Gracie Bradfield won the 200-meter dash. Bradfield was also the anchor on the 4×100 relay team, who along with Casias, Ahrens and Burke won the 4×100 relay.
The Meeker girls finished fourth in a field of 22 teams, which featured many large schools.
“We had a great start at the Rifle meet,” coach Strate said. “The weather was excellent and the competition was stiff. Eagle Vally, Battle Mountain and Grand Junction were the only teams to finish ahead of us.”
Coach Strate said Phelan also scored points in the 400-meter dash and the 4×200 relay (Krisi and Kassi Luce, Burke and Williams) and 4×400 relay (Williams, Phelan, MaKenna Burke and Julia Dinwiddie), also added to the team score.
The boys’ team also fared well their first meet of the season and were led by seniors Cole Brown and Austin Russell, Bradford did not compete. Brown had a personal best in the 100-meter dash and just missed the finals in the long jump. Russell ran the 1,600 and 3,200 runs but his coach said he was “battling an illness.”
“After his strong finish last year at the state meet, as well as his performance at the state cross country meet, we are looking for big things out of Austin,” coach Strate said. “We should be able to put some competitive boys relays together with the leadership of Brown and Russell.”
Kris Casey, Terrence Casias, Brittany Shubnell, Shane Phelan and Ben Quinn are assisting Strate with the coaching duties this year.
The Cowboys will compete next in Cedaredge on April 1 after spring break.

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  • It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
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  • It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
  • Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
  • Read part three of the story of M.T. Streeter in this week’s edition of History Lessons! Find it in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • Meeker FFA Chapter members competed at the District Leadership Development Event in Craig, Colorado, this month. Top row from left to right: Eva Scritchfield, Charlie Rogers, Alan Rivera, Trent Sanders, Koy Weber, Orion Musser, Said Rodriguez, Carlos Carrillo, Aidan Tapia, Hayden Garcia, Tristan Rollins, Mathew Willey, Quentin Simpson. Middle row: Sidney Keetch, Aurora Stallings, Sydnie Ross, Ava Nay, Lili Piper, Leah Wood. Bottom Row: Jaicee Simmons, Kailynn Watson, Cody Richardson, Kayla Castillo, Braydin Raley, Autumn Stallings, Aimee Shults, Emily Hamm. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
  • Choose-your-own-adventure…. Hear from our Editor in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • Black Sulphur Tavern held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for their new business at 364 Seventh St. The space has been renovated with several TVs and games and provides a fun, friendly atmosphere to watch your favorite sports team and enjoy a burger and wings. Owners Frank Maestas and Pat Maestas are pictured with their new staff and Chamber of Commerce representatives Stephanie Hanson, Trudy Burri and Margie Joy. Follow Black Sulphur Tavern on Facebook. Their hours are Wednesday and Thursday 3-9 p.m., Friday 3 p.m. - 1 a.m., Saturday 11-1 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to midnight.
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It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week. Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! We appreciate all your continued support!
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It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
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Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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View on Instagram |
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A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
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