"Runners set." BANG! went the gun

The JH Moorcroft track team heard that time after time in their last two meets. On Monday, May 6 the JH wolves woke up at the crack of dawn and journeyed to Douglas for the Best of the East or East Classic.

This is not your ordinary track meet. This meet requires true grit, spirit and dedication because without it, you will not qualify. Yes, qualify.

Each year, teams from all over Wyoming compete in regular track meets to try and meet the required marks to be able to qualify. This is compared to pre-qualifying in HS track to be able to go to state.

There were 30 Wyoming schools and 770 top performing athletes. This year, 18 athletes were able to go. Out of the 18, we had 9 qualify in more than one individual event.

Those individuals are: Kaden Haynes running the 100m in 13.29, and long jump with a jump of 15-01.75; Evan Jones running the 800m in 2:31.35 and the 1600m run in 5:34.03; Katelynn Blakeman running the 200m in 31.28, 1600m in 6:50.86 and the 100m hurdles in 19.47; Mallory Jones running the 800m in 2:41.54 and placing 3rd overall, the 1600m in 6:13.35 placing 4th overall; Rebekah Anderson running the 800m in 2:52.99; Talissa Fischbach running the 800m in 2:58.77 and long jumping with a jump of 12-07.50; Talia Vargas running the 100m hurdles in 19.55 placing 6th overall; Kailee Gill running the 100m hurdles in 20.13 and long jumping with a jump of 12-06.50; and Kenna LeFave triple jumping with a jump of 28-04.00 placing, 100m hurdles in 20.26 and 200m hurdles in 35.61.

We had a few relay teams also compete. The 7th grade boys 4x100 relay was comprised of Dayne Humes, Ayden Petz, Trenten Gray and Braydnn Terry and they ran a 1:05.77. The 7th grade girls 4X100 relay was comprised of Savanna Williams, Joslyn VonOlnhausen, Kaiah King and Rebekah Anderson and they ran a 1:10.89.

The last relay was the medley relay, and that consists of running a 100m, 100m, 200m and 400m. The 7th grade boys medley relay was comprised of Dayne Humes, Ayden Petz, Craig Robinson and Braydnn Terry and they ran a 2:23.87. The 7th grade girls medley relay was comprised of Savanna Williams, Joslyn VonOlnhausen, Kaiah King and Mallory Jones and they ran a 2:21.48.

Concerning questions filled the air on Wednesday May 8. “Will our track meet get canceled?” “Is it supposed to snow?” “Are we even going to have Districts?”

As questions went unanswered until hours later, we soon learned that the JH Districts track meet was going to be postponed to Monday, May 13. With disappointed faces, and snow falling from the sky, the athletes waited in anticipation for Monday to come.

Monday, May 13 could not have been a nicer day for the highly anticipated Districts. From one extreme to the next, sunscreen was required and the sun was hot.

The athletes performed their best, got their fastest times and competed well. Both the 8th grade girls and the 8th grade boys placed second overall in team points.

Here are some highlights of how everyone did. For the boys, Wyatt Cook placed 8th overall in the 100m with a time of 15.80 is PR for the season; Kaden Haynes placed 3rd overall in the 100m running a 12.71, his PR for the season, placed 4th in the 200m running a 27.24 his PR for the season and placed 3rd overall in the long jump jumping a 14-07.

Braydnn Terry placed 7th overall in the 200m, running a 31.60, his PR for the season. Craig Robinson ran a 36.90 200m, his PR for the season.

Kade Haynes ran a 37.01 200m, his PR for the season. Wyatt Allred ran a 15.80 in the 100m, his PR for the season, ran the 400m running a 1:15.86, his PR for the season, and threw the shot put 40-05, placing 4th overall and making that his PR for the season.

Roman Vargas placed 2nd overall in the 400m, running a 1:07.86, and 5th overall in the 1600m, running a 6:20.67, his PR for the season, and placing 6th overall in the long jump with a jump of 12-06.50. Tucker Cook placed 5th overall in the 800m with a time of 2:43.14, his PR for the season, placed 4th overall in the 1600m with a time of 6:05.77 and 4th overall in the long jump, jumping 14-01.00, his PR for the season.

Evan Jones placed 2nd overall in the 800m with a time of 2:30.70, his PR for the season, and placed 2nd overall in the 1600m with a time of 5:31.14, his PR for the season. Trenten Gray got his PR in the 800m run with a time of 2:55.24 and jumped a 11-03.50 for long jump.

Dayne Humes placed 6th overall in long jump with a jump of 12-04.00, his PR for the season, and ran a 15.80 in the 100m, making that his PR for the season. Ayden Petz jumped a 20-01.50 triple jump, making that his PR.

For the girls, Talia Vargas ran a 14.39 100m, taking 5th overall and making that her PR for the season, 1st overall in the 100m hurdles with a time of 19.03, her PR for the season, and 1st overall in the 200m hurdles with a time of 33.62, her PR for the season. Kaiah King got her PR in the 100m run with a time of 15.53 and 6th overall in the 200m with a time of 31.98, her PR for the season.

Kailee Gill placed 4th overall in the 100m with a time of 14.65, her PR for the season, 3rd overall in the 400m with a time of 1:14.28, 6th overall in the 100m hurdles with a time of 22.36 and 5th overall in the long jump with a jump of 13-05.00.

Angel Zahn ran a 20.40 100m and a 42.99 200m. Katelynn Blakeman placed 3rd overall in the 200m with a time of 28.96, her PR for the season, placed 2nd overall in the 1600m with a time of 6:54.05 and 1st overall in the 100m hurdles with a time of 18.33, her PR for the season.

Kenna LeFave placed 3rd overall in the 100m hurdles with a time of 19.09, her PR for the season, 5th overall in the 200m hurdles with a time of 36.54 and 1st overall in the triple jump with a jump of 30-05.00 making that her PR for the season.

Rebekah Anderson placed 7th overall in the 400m with a time of 1:17.79, 4th overall in the 800m with a time of 2:54.17 and 8th overall in the Long Jump with a jump of 10-08.00. Talissa Fischbach placed 4th overall in the 800m with a time of 2:51.21 and placed 8th overall in the long jump with a jump of 12-05.50.

Mallory Jones placed 3rd overall in the 800m with a time of 2:48.70, and 2nd overall in the 1600m with a time of 6:10. Joslyn VonOlnhausen got her PR in the 100m hurdles with a time of 22.86 and another PR in the 200m hurdles with a time of 40.50.

Savanna Williams placed 5th overall in the 100m hurdles with a time of 21.58, her PR for the season, 5th overall in the 200m hurdles with a time of 38.14.

Great job Moorcroft JH wolves! I am very proud of you! I look forward to spending another season with you and seeing some of you come out for the high school season.