Braves,
Congratulations again on the region championship this year.
The meet was a tremendous success not just because we brought home a team title
but because of the effort level I saw out there on the track and the field over
and over. There were so many awesome performances that it will be impossible to
highlight all of them, but I will try and make a more comprehensive list to
share in the future. As I went through the events before the meet and
considered all the places that we had a chance to steal more points I saw ten
different events where I thought we could move up. I spoke to a number of individuals
and challenged them to try and move up. In almost every case, they did just
that. One example is when I talked to Sam and Austin about battling to make it
into finals of the 300H. I pulled them aside at practice and told them that I
believed that we could get 5 people into the final (4 were “supposed” to make
it, on paper) and challenged them to displace the 8th ranked runner
and try and move up. On Wednesday it turned out that Sam and Austin were in the
same heat right next to each other. Sure enough coming down the home stretch
they were neck and neck and clearly pushing each other to try and claim that
last spot in the final. Ultimately Austin made it into the final the next day,
and I don’t think either of them would have made it had they not been
challenging each other. Sam was happy for his teammate and ran a solid leg for
us in the medley the next day. Austin finished 6th the next day
after fighting his way into the final. Bountiful had 5 of the 8 people running
in the 300H final and we ended up with 22 points from the event, the most on
the day.
Stobbe was entered in the high jump but had a rough day and
ended up no-heighting and he was clearly frustrated. Determined to make up for
the points that he lost we placed 3rd in the javelin, ran a crucial
leg in our 3rd place 4x100m, and battled his way into 5th
in the 100m after he was ranked 8th going into the final. Isaac
Bills had an enormous meet coming into the shot put event ranked out of the top
8, but had a monstrous PR to finish second. None of the coaches were really
surprised by that result as we have seen the type of work he has been putting
in – like getting up early during spring break and making his way to the ring
to get some more practice in while most kids his age were still sleeping or trying
to keep their snap-streaks alive. Ashley had a huge meet qualifying for state
in in both hurdles, and earning top ten honors all-time at Bountiful in both
events. She took a hard fall at the end of the 300H final which messed up what
seemed like was going to be yet another big PR. She didn’t allow anyone time to
think as she quickly jumped up and finished the race, then ran a leg of our
4x400. I love seeing that kind of grit and determination.
The more I write the more I want to talk about everyone but
I can’t do it. I will share more at practice tomorrow. The last thing I wanted
to point out was the final race of the day, the girls 4x400. Due to some crazy occurrence
they had to stop the race half-way through, which means that two of our girls
had run, and would have to run again. Ashely ended up hurting her leg at the
end so we were allowed a sub, and Amelia Tew stepped in, yet again, to run an
awesome race. I don’t know how she can have a huge pr in the medley 800 and
then be anxiously ready to run the 4x400. That’s a tough turn around but one
that she clearly enjoys. Laurie was the one that ended up having to run two
400s in 30 minutes time due to the mix-up and she ran extremely well. I don’t know
if many people could even finish a second 400, let alone excel at it. Rachel
got the baton in 4th place, and we needed to at least stay in 4th
to make it to state. She had run 6 races over the last two days and it was
clear there was some lingering fatigue. I knew she was somewhat tired, but I
also knew she was going to give every last bit of energy she had. After 150m
into the race she was still in 4th and I started to trot across the
field to see the finish. While jogging over I said, to no one in particular, “she’s
gonna get second; write it down.” I said it a few times to make sure I had
witnesses. On the final straight away she and the 3rd place girl had
closed the gap on the second place girl and it wasn’t clear how it was going to
shake out over the final 20 meters. For a moment it kind of looked like Rachel
might not be able to pass them. As she has done countless times over her career
she showed a mental toughness that is unique to her. She describes running the
400 like this, “you run as fast as you can, then at the end, you run even
faster.” That is literally the only way to describe that race, and sure enough
she went by those girls, finished second, and collapsed across the finish line.
Half of our team then came over and gave her an ovation in what I felt was a
gesture of appreciation, not just for that race, but for years of giving
everything she’s got.
The kind of mental toughness that I have described in a few
of our athletes here is present in so many of it. It is contagious, and our
team has gotten stronger and stronger over the course of the year. Without some
extreme mental toughness over those two days our team would never have won. I’m
proud not just of what we accomplished, but of what our team is becoming. We
are mentally stronger now than we were at the beginning of the year.
Moving forward, we have the jv region meet on Tuesday at
woods cross. All those not competing at state are welcome to compete there.
State is Friday and Saturday, and a list of those who have qualified for state
is below. All our relays have qualified so some of you who did not qualify
individually will still be entered in a relay.
On Monday the SBOs are hosting a pizza party for the track
team in Mrs. Ludwig’s room during lunch. Come on up and enjoy some pizza and
hang out with the team. On Wednesday, the Nielson’s have invited the team to
their home for dinner. That will be at 5 PM, and I will send more information
out on this in the next day or two.
Can’t wait to get back to practice tomorrow and be ready for
an awesome state meet.
If I have left anyone off this state qualifying list, please
let me know.
2017 State Qualifiers by athlete
Rachel Whipple
100H
300H
High Jump
Tashena Ashby
Discus
Norris Tukuafu
Shot
Put
Nathan Losee
Discus
Adam Amott
110H
300H
Julia Miller
Long
Jump
Kohle Newbold
400m
200m
Ashley Wilkinson
100H
300H
Laurie Murphy
1600m
800m
Dallin Mason
3200m
Anna Sophia Rorrer Warren
3200m
Bailey Basinger
Discus
Shot
Put
Ben Marlette
110H
Hunter Munk
300H
Blake Nielson
400m
800m
High
Jump
Davis Stobbe
Javelin
Isaac Bills
Shot
Put
Nainoa Medeiros
Discus
