The 7th and 8th-grade boys’ and girls’ track teams kicked off their season on Monday, April 13, with an exciting first meet marked with warm temperatures and a challenging headwind along the 100-meter straightaway. The boys’ team placed 2nd and the girls’ team placed third, fantastic finishes at this challenging meet.

Despite the strong wind, athletes from both teams showed determination, grit, and early-season promise. The warm weather created an energetic atmosphere, but the steady wind demanded that our runners push hard against gusts that tested endurance.

In the 100-meter hurdles, competitors battled the wind stride for stride, but runners finished strong despite the resistance. 8th-grader Claire Peterson finished in 19.90, capturing first place, with teammate Kelsey Hayes clutching second place, a mere .10 of a second behind her. “I felt good running this race,” stated Peterson. Hayes added, “We were both pushing each other to go faster.” Adding to the outstanding 100-meter hurdle performance was 8th-grader Landyn Fisher. Fisher also took first place, with an exceptional time of 15.42, blowing the rest of the competition away. Coaches noted that while times may not reflect peak performance due to the windy conditions, the effort and technique displayed were encouraging signs for the rest of the season.

Distance events saw impressive pacing and perseverance, as runners adjusted their strategies to account for the wind on the straightaway and used the curves to regain momentum. 7th-grader Taylor Carlson led off the girls’ 4x800 with a jaw-dropping split of 2:52. Teammates Aleah Judson, Nalayna Knuths, and Ava Richman did a great job finishing the relay. It was a great opening event to kick off the meet and set a tone of excitement for the evening. “My legs felt like Jell-O, and I was tired, but it felt so good finishing as fast as I did. Now, my goal is to break the school record for the 800, and I feel like I can do it,” said Carlson. For the boys, 8th-graders Grant Peterson, Turner Ahlers, Jayden Christie, and Griffin Vote earned a stunning first-place finish to begin the boys’ team’s fun evening as well. “The wind made it hard, but teamwork made the dream work, as well as confidence and determination,” exclaimed Peterson.

In field events, athletes recorded personal bests in the long jump and shot put, despite the blustery conditions. In the long jump, 8th-grader Tristan Hanson jumped an impressive 18-04.00, breaking the school record set in 2015 by Nyles Johnson, who had jumped 18-03.00. When asked about breaking this record, Hanson said, “I’ve been practicing at the track a lot on my own time. It feels good that my extra time and work are paying off. Now, my goal is to hit 19-00.00.” Not only did Hanson earn accolades in the long jump, but he won the 100-meter dash with a 26.88 run, and teammate Wyatt Meunch clenched a close second-place finish. Earlier in the evening, Meunch won the shot put event, throwing 42-04.00 to clinch that amazing first-place finish. What a night for Hanson and Meunch.

For the ladies, 8th-grader Tana Harrison had a great night at the long-jump pit as well. Harrison jumped 14-05.00, earning herself a new personal record. Harrison was all smiles as she soaked in her accomplishment. Beaming, Harrison said, “I felt really good! I was hoping that I had broken the school record, but I was just a little short. This jump gave me confidence that I can do it, and now that is my goal.” Also, beaming with pride was 8th-grader Kensley Cox, who placed third in the 200-meter dash and fourth in the 400-meter dash, and 7th-grader Annie Harris, who, along with relay teammates Kelsey Hayes, Kensley Cox, and Taylor Carlson, helped the lady Jags earn a second-place finish in the coveted 4x400-meter relay to cap off the night. “I was very excited,” delighted Harris. “I loved not only the team I ran this relay with, but the whole team. We pushed each other and supported each other all night long. It felt so good.”

As Harris pointed out, team spirit was high throughout the meet, with athletes cheering on their teammates and supporting one another across events. For many 7th-graders, this marked their first-ever track meet experience. 7th-grader Cooper Lane said, “Track has been so fun. You get to show everyone how hard you’ve worked in the off-season, and it’s one of the funnest sports to compete in. Plus, you get to be around friends at practice and at meets.” 8th graders stepped up as leaders, setting the tone with strong performances, positive attitudes, and encouragement raining all evening. Tana Harrison said, “I like how we are pumping each other up this year.” Adding to that sentiment, Claire Peterson and Kelsey Hayes said, “Last year’s 8th-graders helped us a lot. We got that leadership from them, so now it is our turn to help out the 7th-graders.” 

Coaches emphasized that this meet was an important starting point for the season. “The conditions weren’t easy,” one coach shared, “but the way our athletes competed and supported each other was exactly what we want to see. We were very impressed with our 8th-grade leaders who helped get the 7th graders from event to event. But we were equally impressed, with the reverence the 7th-graders showed the upperclassmen. This is going to be a season for the books.”

As the season continues, teams will look to build on this early experience, improve times, and take advantage of hopefully calmer winds in future meets. If this first meet is any indication, it’s shaping up to be an exciting season for boys’ and girls' middle school track.