Beal competes at State track meet
OMAHA — The Randolph Cardinals track team was represented at the Class D State track meet by junior Bailey Beal and that would be the positive the program needed heading into the summer.
The program will also lose long-time head coach and athletic director Ted Stubbs who heads into retirement after taking Beal down to Omaha to participate in three events.
“Bailey wrapped up a sterling junior track season by qualifying for three individual events,” Stubbs said as he was able to watch Beal wrap up a strong athletic year.
Beal jumped 14-9.5 and finished 20th in the long jump, added a 4-9 effort in the high jump to take ninth place, just missing out on the medals and then wrapped up her year in the 100-meter run, recording a strong 12.99 finish at the tape, to take 10th place.
It was a solid punctuation for a season by a girls team that continually improved each meet and should be able to use that positive mojo to get ready for the 2022-23 athletic campaign.
“Overall, the girls had a very good season and most of the team will be back next year to compete again,” Stubbs said. “It was a real pleasure to coach this bunch in my final year at Randolph High School. Thanks to the girls and coaches, Tom and Eric, for all the help this season.”
Eric Brown led the boys team and despite not appearing at the state finals, the head coach saw plenty of things to look at positively and build upon.
“The best thing we did this season was improve,” Brown said. “We had a few of our boys at districts get personal records in their events and that’s huge for us going forward into next season.
“The weather didn’t cooperate with us a lot, but we got the most out of what we could throughout the season. I am thankful for the seniors who finished off their last year and I’m excited to continue coaching the younger athletes throughout their high school careers.”
Despite being shutout of the final weekend of the campaign, Brown is not seeing that as a trend going forward into the next spring.
“I believe we got a lot of potential - both boys and girls - to bring a bunch of kids to state next season,” Brown said.
