Track and Field to send athletes to Texas Relays

Junior+Grace+Bennett+runs+the+100+meter+dash+at+the+Lovejoy+Invitational.

Kelsey Carroll

Junior Grace Bennett runs the 100 meter dash at the Lovejoy Invitational.

Alexis Russell, Staff Writer

Fifteen track and field athletes in ten events have qualified for the 92 annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays that will take place this Thursday-Saturday in Austin. The Texas Relays will be the team’s last meet before the district championship on April 3-4.

I’m really proud of the work [these athletes have] put in to qualify,” boys head coach Tim Denton said. “We’re looking to improve our times in each of these events one last time before we compete in the district championships here at Leopard Stadium.”

The district championship, area, and region will all take place next month. Last season, the program had three athletes advance to the state meet, which will take place this year on May 10-11.

“Our goal is to enter our athletes in the events that give our team the best chance to win the district meet while also giving our athletes the best chance to move on to the area meet, regional meet, and state meet,” Denton said. “We have some of the top times in the state in each area, so it’s going to be an exciting April for our team.”

Freshman Katie Armstrong said she is excited about qualifying for steeplechase, which she just started competing in this year.

“I feel very proud of myself,” Armstrong said. “I’m going to try to run my best at this meet because I don’t know how far I will advance in the other races. I am trying to end this season with good races.”

At this point in the season, the boys team has set eight new school records and the girls team has set five. The new records are as follows:

Boys:

  • Will Muirhead: 3200m (9:26.02) and 1600m (4:15.32)
  • Ryan Gordon – 100m (10.56) and tied Jake Chamberlin’s 200m Record (21.54)
  • Jahi Rainey – Shot Put (54’9″) and Discus (167’11”)
  • 4x800m Relay – Will Muirhead, Grant  Gueller, Whitson Bedell, Trevor Malik (8:12.73)
  • Sprint Medley Relay – Ryan Scott, Chief Collins, Jordan Grebe, Brett Pedersen (3:55.81)

Girls:

  • Katie Armstrong: Steeplechase (7:36)
  • Alaina Pierce: High Jump (5”6)
  • Kassidy Litchenberg: 100m (12.20)
  • Megan Diercks: Javelin (74’7”)
  • Distance Medley Relay (12:42): Carson Hockersmith, Carsen Mcfadden, Kassidy Litchenburg, Amelia Carrothers