In a meet defined by unpredictable weather and relentless wind, the middle school boys’ and girls’ track teams showed resilience and competitiveness, with the boys capturing a dominant first-place finish and the girls earning third in the SCC Justin Martin Memorial Junior High Relays on Monday, May 4.

What began as a manageable, windy spring day quickly shifted, as temperatures dropped and blustering winds swept across the track, impacting races, handoffs, and field events alike. Despite the challenging conditions, the boys’ team rose above the elements, delivering standout first and/or second-place performances in nearly every event. “Last night, I was very surprised by how I performed in my races. I initially thought going into my first race that I would be severely affected by the cold, but I managed to power through and not let it determine my results,” said eighth-grader Landyn Fisher. Fisher merited gold in the 100-meter hurdles and 4x100, silver in the 100-meter dash, and bronze in the long jump, adding lots of accolades to the boys’ impressive team performance.

Henry Sandstrom brought in a PR in the mile, despite the high gales, and Grant Peterson pushed to add silver in the mile. “I felt satisfied with the 1600 finishing at 6:07. But I know I can still improve if I got that in strong winds,” wrote Sandstrom. Both Sandstrom and Peterson added to the team’s hardware by earning gold in the 4x800, too, along with teammates Jayden Christie and Griffin Vote. “The 4x800 went rather well for our team; we had a steady lead and kept our pace as a team,” added Sandstrom. Adding to the PR awards was eighth-grader Bentley Jondle in the 100-meter hurdles. He and his shuttle hurdle relay team of Jax Hindt, Jaxson Halsrud, and Bennett Nolte added another first-place finish to the boys’ score. “Track is the best time of the year,” stated Jondle, who has been running hurdles and enjoying it for two years now. From sprints to distance races and relays, the boys set the tone early and never let up. Their depth and consistency proved too much for the competition, as they piled up points and controlled the meet from start to finish, winning by over a 100-point margin.

The girls’ team, meanwhile, battled both the weather and tough competition to secure third place. While the finish reflected solid effort, the meet also highlighted areas for growth moving forward.

“In last night's meet, I was very proud of the team's accomplishments. One accomplishment was the 4x800 because I know from experience that adjusting from short distance to long distance can be a challenge, and in the 4x800, four new runners ran this difficult race and did it for the team,” said seventh-grader Reagan Cramer, who chose to highlight pride in her teammates’ race, rather than her own, showing impressive character. Cramer continues, “Even though last night's meet was a little rough, everyone was still able to persevere and score points for our team. Whenever there was a tough race, there was always a teammate there ready to cheer someone up, and that is probably what I like most about this team. I also love that there is always a teammate cheering for someone when they're running their event; personally, it pushes me to run harder and faster.” Cramer highlighted exactly what coaches note as the team’s strength- being there for each other. “I like being on the team because it feels like one big family, especially when my teammates cheer me on loudly when I'm running,” exclaimed eighth-grader Alexis Fiala. Comically, Isabel Christians, an eighth-grader, sums up being on this team. “I hate running, but I'm so glad I joined track. I get to have new experiences and be a part of a team that I wouldn't have gotten to if I didn't.” The supportive nature of the team is its foundation, and coaches are looking forward to building on that.

A constant for the Jags has been seventh-grader Averie Kitchen, who explains how her races are developing her as a runner, while also praising the team’s efforts. “My first event was the 4x200; this event has helped me improve at trusting others in my race. This race has also helped me with keeping a good sprint pace for a mid-distance. My next race was the 800; the 800 has pushed me in ways I didn’t expect it to. The 800 has also conditioned me to build up my endurance. Last night's races had some struggles as the weather worsened, but the girls continued to push through and did amazing. I'm so proud of everyone and how they performed.” Kitchen’s versatility, positivity, and athleticism, wherever coaches put her, continue to shine.

Coaches emphasized that success in the coming weeks will hinge on a renewed focus on proper warm-ups, staying physically and mentally ready before, during, and after events, and continuing to bring consistent energy and encouragement to teammates, whether on the track or from the sidelines. 

Even in difficult conditions, both teams showed grit and determination. With the boys riding momentum from a commanding win and the girls sharpening their focus on the “little things,” the program continues to build strong performances as the season progresses. Their next meet is Friday, May 8, at Manson-NW.