Last Thursday, the Cowboys and Cowgirls both traveled to Grundy Center for the 2A District State Qualifying track meet. On a day when the heat index was around 100 degrees, the teams saw some successes.
Coach Monty Harker said things started out a little slow for the Cowgirls in the sweltering heat. However, when things were said and done, the ‘girls came away with four qualifying events. The team qualified with their 4 x 100-meter shuttle hurdle relay (1:09.4), represented by Mikayla Beisel, Clarissa Hasty, Ezra Heifner and Kennedy Trca. In 100-meter hurdles, the dynamic jumping duo of Trca (15.9) and Beisel (15.98) both qualified and finally, Beisel surprised her coach and qualed in the 400 meter hurdles (1:10.32).
“The shuttle hurdle ran their fastest time of the year and did a great job,” said Coach Harker. “All runners ran a personal best and so winning that after the disappointing fall last year was fantastic. I am very proud of them and the work that they put in this year to get that to state. Kennedy and MaKayla both ran well in the 100 hurdles with Kennedy winning and MaKayla was a close second. They are rated very high in the state along with the shuttle hurdles and hopefully make finals on Saturday. MaKayla placed second in the 400 hurdles and qualified that which we didn't think at the time she could, so that was a great surprise.”
Harker said he was hoping to have qualified a couple more events. “MaKayla struggled a little bit in the high jump and didn't jump as well as she had the whole year so that was disappointing for her,” the coach said. “She should've qualified in that event easily. Makayla had missed out on the high jump on a tiebreaker on misses. Kennedy in the long jump had to wait a while to jump. She did her best but got third by about a half an inch was it which was tough to handle. Kennedy ended up not qualifying by a few inches when all was said and done.”
In the end though, Harker was very happy with his team. “It was a great meet. We peaked when we wanted to peak. They are a small but mighty group, and I am proud of them.”
Other Cowgirl top-8 placers– 4×200 m relay- 5th (1:53.34)-Jorja Fulk, Kennedy Jackson, Heifner, Hastly; 800 m run- Harley Charlson- 7th (2:37.90); High jump- Beisel-3rd (4-10); Long jump- Trca-3rd (15-06.5).
The State Track Meet takes place Thursday through Saturday, May 19-21 at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.
