MEEKER | The Last Chance Meet, or as some of the tracksters are calling it, the “nicest meet of the year so far” was a successful event for the Cowboys. Fourteen individuals and five relay teams placed.
“It was a successful meet,” commented head coach Hallie Blunt, “after the year we had, so much time indoor, our kids were competing well on the track. The day had its ups and downs but I am so proud of how the kids have been working.
In the individual events beginning with the 200-meter dash, Natalie Kracht took fifth, in triple jump, Reese Clatterbaugh placed third, and rounding out the girl individual placers, in discus Addie Knowles finished fourth.
“Reese was one of the kids on the bubble for qualifying for state,” said Blunt, “she has competed tough all year and we were so hopeful that she would make it.
The individual placers for the boys running events began with the 200 and Gabe Smithers taking fifth and 1,600-meter run Wyatt Rollins took fifth.
In field events the boys had eight placers, in triple Sam Hightower took third, in disc Brendan Clatterbaugh placed fourth, Judd Harvey placed seventh in disc and second in shot, and Jacob Simonsen placed for the first time this year, breaking his personal record and took fifth in shot. Meeker hosted the pole vault competition and the Cowboys swept the top four spots. Connor Blunt placed first, Brendan second, Austin Lopez third, and Hightower fourth.
The girls relays had a great day the 4×100-meter relay took first while the 4×200-meter relay, 800 sprint medley relay, and the 4×400 relay all took second. The boys had one placing relay, the 4×100 meter relay which took second.
The top 18 in the state have been announced and the Cowboys will take four kids qualifying in individual events.
“Dana [pole vault coach] does a great job with the kids on pole vault and it is showing,” said Blunt.
In pole vault Casey Brink, Blunt and Brendan all qualified. These boys will compete Thursday beginning at 2:30 p.m.
“The pole vaulters will be our first to compete and I think it is a great way to start state track,” commented Blunt.
Harvey was the fourth individual qualified for the Meeker Cowboys, he qualified in shot and that event will be Friday at 8:30 a.m. There were several other Cowboys who were just outside of the top 18 in the 19, 20 and 21 positions who worked hard and were declared to go but a spot never opened up.
“We had three kids that finished 19, 20 and 21,” said Blunt, “I was really hoping we could get them qualified but it just didn’t work out this year.”
“I am really excited for our relays, I think that the girls 4×400 and both the 4×100’s have an opportunity to reach the podium. The girls 4×800 is a fun one to watch and for a group that has only ran it one time I truly believe they will be taking a lot of time off,” commented Blunt.
The girls are taking several relays to state. The first event will be the 4×800-meter relay ran by Jayde Turner, Taylor Garcia, Ellie Hossack and Brighton Bair. This race will be on Thursday at 4:45 p.m. and it is a finals race, meaning it is a one time and done.
Both the boys and girls 4×100 relays will run Friday morning. The boys relay of Brink, Harvey, Brendan, and Blunt will run at 9:35 am followed by the girls at 9:43 (not to be super specific about the time). The girls 4×100 relay team includes Hossack, Turner, Adi Selle and Ainsley Selle. These relay heats are preliminary and the finals will be run on Saturday.
The final event for Friday will be the girls 4×400 relay of Turner, Adi, Garcia and Bair. This race is also a preliminary race with finals on Saturday.
The team is allowed to take two alternatives for each relay. For the boys they are Jon Cardile and Smithers and for the girls Nora Gianinetti, Kracht and Celine Lazano.
BY TIFFANY JEHOREK | Special to the Herald Times
