Athletes compete well against larger schools

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions and Lady Lions track and field teams dealt with weather and injury issues in addition to competition from larger schools last week at Jim Ned’s Tribe Relays.

The varsity boys placed fifth in the team standings with 77 points, while the girls were sixth with 45¼ points. The JV boys scored 19 points to finish seventh.

Albany was the only Class 2A school entered in the meet on Thursday, March 10, with the rest of the field made up of Class 3A entries.

“We had one of those days that was a little rough overall,” boys coach Rod Britting said. “We had a couple of kids get some minor injuries and that caused a lot of reshuffling.”

Britting added that an incoming weather front also affected performances.

“All of the jumping pits were going into a headwind, which meant everybody jumped poorly,” he said. “When you jump poorly, your attitude gets bad. It wasn’t a great day for us, but then it wasn’t a great day for anybody.”

Kiana Roberson won both the shot put and discus with season-best efforts. Chey’Anne Weaver was second in the discus, Sarah Cotter was second in the high jump and Ashlyn Holson placed in the high jump, long jump, and triple jump.

“We are doing really well in the field events, especially the throws and the high jump,” girls coach Missy Dutchover said. “This was a very competitive meet against mainly 3A schools. We’ve had some sick kids, so we didn’t have many competing in the running events.”

For the boys, Tye Edgar cleared 12 feet, 6 inches to win the pole vault over teammate Luke Marshall. Adam Hill placed second in both the 110 and 300 hurdles. Jaheim Newton was second in the high jump with Cole Chapman finishing third. Chapman was second in the triple jump with Luke Ivy fourth. Brooks Neece was third in the discus with his best throw of the season.

The Lion relay teams placed fifth in the 400 relay and 1600 relay, and sixth in the 800 relay after being forced to alter the lineup.

"We had a couple of kids get some muscle strains, so I had to replace people on relays,” Britting said. “The times weren’t great.”

The Albany teams will compete Saturday, March 19 at the PK Relays at Graham.

The schedule for the following week in still in limbo, with coaches deciding whether the teams will go to Olney on March 24 or Breckenridge on March 26.

The junior high schedule for that week was also undecided at press time.

TRIBE RELAYS

At Tuscola

BOYS

Team totals – 1. Jim Ned, 179; 2. Coahoma, 132; 3. Coleman, 100; 4. Wall, 79½; 5. Albany, 77; 6. Ballinger, 48½; 7. Merkel, 44.

Discus – 3. Brooks Neece, 115-11.

Long jump – 6. Taren Farmer, 18-8.

Triple jump – 2. Cole Chapman, 40-6½;. 4. Luke Ivy, 40-0.

High jump – 2. Jaheim Newton, 5-10; 3. Cole Chapman, 5-10.

Pole vault – 1. Tye Edgar, 12-6; 2. Luke Marshall, 12-0..

400 relay – 5. Albany (London Fuentes, Cason Fairchild, Cole Chapman, Luke Ivy), 47.16.

110 hurdles – 2. Adam Hill, 15.44.

100 – 7. Coy Lefevre, 11.92.

800 relay – 6. Albany (Coy Lefevre, Luke Marshall, Cole Chapman, Luke Ivy), 1:37.45.

300 hurdles – 2. Adam Hill, 41.51.

200 – 7. Tye Edgar, 24.75.

1600 relay – 5. Albany (Luke Ivy, Samuel Rosas, Luke Marshall, Adam Hill), 3:51.09.

GIRLS

Team totals – 1. Merkel, 141; 2. Wall, 116; 3. Ballinger, 87¼; 4. Coleman, 86½; 5. Jim Ned, 69¾; 6. Albany, 45¼; 7. Coahoma, 41¼.

Shot put – 1. Kiana Roberson, 33-9½.

Discus – 1. Kiana Roberson, 107-5; 2. Chey’Anne Weaver, 95-5.

Long jump – 5. Ashlyn Holson, 14-7.

Triple jump – 5. Ashlyn Holson, 30-8½.

High jump – 2. Sarah Cotter, 5-4; 4. Ashlyn Holson, 4-10.

Pole vault – 6. (tie) Briley Tabor, 7-6.

100 hurdles – 6. Ella Webb, 18.62; 8. Avery Everitt, 19.26.

JV BOYS

Team totals – 1. Jim Ned, 219; 2. Coahoma, 102; 3. Wall, 77; 4. Coleman, 74; 5. Merkel, 65; 6. Ballinger, 54; 7. Albany, 19.

Discus – 3. Lanxton Viertel, 93-5.

Triple jump – 3. Branson Beal, 34-7.

100 – 5. Jonathan Coody, 12.35; 8. Branson Beal, 12.57.

400 – 6. Hunter Vickers, 1:01.58.

200 – 4. Branson Beal, 25.71.