Track moves forward in sectionals

May 10, 2010 • written by Kimmy West  
Filed under Sports

The Bartlett track team has been having a great season. Their five qualified runners participated in their first day of sectionals on May 7, and they have two more days of sectionals on May 18, and 20. The five qualifiers must make it into the top four in their event to qualify for the state competition.

The team has worked hard to improve their speed and to drop their times this season. According to head coach Mitch McDaniel the boys reached their peak at the right time.

Sophomore and first-time runner Chance Keeley has improved since the start of the year and now he clocks a time of 4:43 on the mile run. Also, sophomore Ryan Wilcox beat his personal record of five minutes on the mile run with a time of 4:53.

Also this year was the Harding Relay when seniors Willie Matthews, Jeremy Merriweather, and Gerren Harrison beat the triple jump relay record of 120 by five points, making the new record 125.

Even in track, a sport that revolves around each person individually, the seniors have been able to help the underclassmen improve.

“The seniors we have now have shown leadership through event training and competitions,” McDaniel said. “They have shown the underclassmen what it takes to compete at the highest [level].”

Support comes from all directions as the team moves forward towards the state competition.