Hardware Haul

Every chance to compete gives new opportunities to work on being your best, both individually and as a team. Saturday marked the first chance for the Wildcats to get on a 200-meter track for a big invitational. It was an also an opportunity for athletes to step up, the team was down a few varsity athletes for various reasons.

The field events continue to get the team going with a strong start. Christian Martin did not have his best day, but still managed to put the shot out 15.44 meters on his final throw to take the victory and throw over 15.4 meters for the 3^rd straight meet. Stephon Griffin joined his teammates at the conclusion of the basketball season and after a rocky first few heights got into a nice rhythm to take the victory in the JV high jump, with a jump just 5cm off his personal best. The other individual winner on the day was Kalib Smith who took the victory in the JV 400. Kalib has made huge improvements this season, his hard work over the past 9 months have paid big dividends.

In order for big team success at an invite you have to have a lot of point scorers. Bryan Underwood contributed in a big way with a 4^th place finish in the 600 and then came back with a 2^nd place finish in the 200. Tyler Schick took 2^nd in the 800 and then anchored the 4x400 (Scott Freischlag, Harlan Matson, Jake Michel) relay to a 3^rd place finish. The JV 4x200 with Torrance Freeman, Stephon Griffin, Gilberto Saucedo, and Na’Varyian Junior took 2nd place. Torrance also finished 3^rd in the 200, and broke the F/S school record in the process.

Ty Vitanovec took 3^rd in the JV 3200 in his first attempt at the distance. Arnold Arce and Luke Adair, took 3^rd and 4^th in the varsity 1600. Harlan Matson took 4^th in the varsity 800. Josiah Taylor took 3^rd in the JV shot put.

The day also had a bunch of big PRs. Curterry Clark stepped up and jumped at the varsity level in both the long jump and triple jump and came away with PRs in both. The JV 4x800 saw some big PR splits from Denzell Mims and Guilian Salas. Nathan Bingham ran a PR in the JV 400. In the 1600 both Dominic Barrios and Aden Veljacic ran PRs and broke 6 minutes for the first time.

The team has two great opportunities to compete this upcoming week and we work our way towards the end of the indoor season and take steps to be at our best come May.