Pole vaulter advances to state

Thu, 05/02/2019 - 15:29

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Several members of the Albany track teams competed last week at the Region I-2A meet in Levelland, with senior Caroline Masters advancing for a second year to the state track meet in the pole vault.

While Masters was the lone Albany athlete to advance to Austin, several other individuals and three of the four relay teams made the finals to place at the regional meet.

“Friday (the first day of the meet) was not a good day for us,” said boys coach Rod Britting. “Both of our boys relays placed eighth to barely make finals, and we did advance in the long jump like we thought we would. But the kids came back Saturday for the rest of the field events and the running finals to perform like I knew they were capable of doing.”

Girls coach Lauren Peacock echoed Britting’s feelings about the first day of competition.

“We didn’t compete like we have been,” she said. “Some of the girls were still battling injuries, and nerves got some of the others.”

The bright spot of the meet for both coaches was Masters qualifying for the state meet, clearing 10-6 in the girls pole vault for second place.

“Caroline has worked hard since August preparing for this, and she made it,” Peacock said. “She has improved steadily and become a very consistent jumper.”

Masters tied the top jump of 10-6, but advanced as second on misses. She took seventh at the state meet last year, clearing 10-0.

The boys sprint relay improved to sixth place in the finals with a time of 1:36.01, while the mile relay jumped from eighth to third with a 3:30.72 finish to become the alternate.

“The guys ran much better in the finals,” Britting said. “Both teams ended on a very positive note to improve on their preliminary performances.”

The coach said the entire season has been plagued by injuries.

“Injuries have hurt our training throughout the season,” he said. “We were still having to move people around at the regional meet because not everyone was at 100 percent.”

The coach praised the efforts of freshmen Luke Ivy and Jaheim Newton, who both turned in personal records in the triple jump. Ivy placed fifth in the finals, followed by Newton in sixth.

“Those guys improved a lot over the last couple of weeks, and it’s very impressive for freshmen to compete at that level,” said Britting.

Junior Colby Hargett earned fifth in the high jump with a 5-10, and freshman Robert Bailey finished in 10th place.

In the girls high jump, freshman Sarah Cotter cleared 5-02 for fourth place, and Alli Hill jumped 5-0 for 10th.

“Alli was still battling an injury from earlier in the season and didn’t have her best jump,” Peacock said. “Sarah competed well but couldn’t get back to her record at the area meet. Both of them have very bright futures.”

Junior Jaleigh Morales made the finals and placed eighth in the shot put during her first trip to the regional meet.

“Jaleigh strained her hamstring in the prelims for the sprint and had to pull up some,” the girls coach said. “So we didn’t made the finals in the sprint, and we had to substitute Torie (Fuentes) in for Jaleigh in the mile relay.”

Albany made the finals in the 4x400 and took seventh overall.

“Torie ran a great leg for us, moving us up,” Peacock said.

Freshman Ansleigh Garcia also competed in the 300 meter hurdles, but didn’t make the finals.

Girls Results

300 hurdles – 13. Ansleigh Garcia, 55.25.

4x100 relay – 16. Albany, 1:02.24. Torie Fuentes, Sarah Cotter, Allison Hill, Jaleigh Morales.

4x400 relay – 7. Albany, 4:19.69. Ansleigh Garcia, Sarah Cotter, Torie Fuentes, Carley Green.

Shot put – 8. Jaleigh Morales, 30-09.75.

High jump – 4. Sarah Cotter, 5-02. 10. Allison Hill, 5-0.

Pole vault – 2. Caroline Masters, 10-06.

Boys Results

4x200 relay – 6. Albany, 1:36.01. Ben West, Blaine Kayga, Robert Bailey, BJ Morris.