MEEKER | There were two days of track events for the Cowboys last weekend. The annual Clint Wells Invitational in Craig was Friday, but not before Meeker hosted the pole vault portion of the meet.
Lady Cowboy Brighton Bair took first place in the 1600 meter Run at the Clint Wells Invitational inn Craig last Saturday. Bair has been on the track and cross country teams for Meeker for four years and competes in the 800 Meter Run, 1600, and 3200 Meter Run. | TIFFANY JEHOREK PHOTO
Meeker had three vaulters place in the top six: Casey Brink, first at 12 feet 6 inches, Connor Blunt, second with a personal record (PR) of 11’3”, and Sam Hightower 9’3.”
“Through the weekend we had so many PR’s,” said head coach Hallie Blunt. “The nice weather and full weeks of practice are showing in the results during the meets.”
Friday the rest of the team was able to compete in Craig on their brand new track and a perfect weather day.
“We tried some new combinations for our relays for both the boys and girls and I think it paid off, we qualified more, set some PR’s and we have a couple that moved much closer to qualifying,” said Blunt. “It is our plan to continue to work to get those close, qualified.”
For the girls the 4×100-meter relay took second, 800 sprint medley relay fourth, and 4×400-meter relay third and set a new PR.
The boys 4×100 relay took fifth and the 4×200-meter relay of Connor, Jon Cardile, Brendan Clatterbaugh, and Judd Harvey placed second with a six second PR, and the 4×400 relay sixth which also set a PR and had Gabe Smithers running a sub 56 second leg.
“The girls really did good in their individual running events,” said Blunt. “Brighton Bair ran so well and cut so much time off, I am really hoping that it is enough that she is qualified for state and stays there.”
Bair placed in two events this weekend, she took third in the 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes 45.93 seconds and then in the 1,600-meter run, her new PR of 5 minutes and 45.93 seconds won her the event.
Two other lady Cowboys placed in the 800, Taylor Garcia took fourth and Nora Gianinetti fifth.
Natalie Kracht had a good day, setting another PR in the 100-meter run and Zoe had a PR in the 200-meter run.
The field events were the most successful for the Cowboys.
In the triple jump Reese Clatterbaugh took third with a distance of 30 feet 4.75 inches, Hightower also took third with a jump of 37’ 3.75”. Hightower placed in his third individual event and he cleared 5 feet 3 inches in high jump to take third in that too. Ines Rossel didn’t place but did set a PR in long jump.
The throwers had a good day. Addie Knowles finished fifth in discus and a PR throw of 98 feet 9 inches. Harvey had a 12 foot PR in disc and followed it up with a fifth place finish in shot. Clatterbaugh had a PR in shot and just missed placing.
This weekend is the big three day meet for the Cowboys in Grand Junction for the league meet. The meet is extra big as it includes multiple classifications competing in one location. Thursday is pole vault followed by a mixture of the field and running events Friday and finishing Saturday.
By TIFFANY JEHOREK – Special to the Herald Times
