Young athletes found success during the Jr. High track season

COLERIDGE — Laurel-Concord-Coleridge Track 2021 for the Middle School is in the books and what a great year we have had.

We had 49 middle schoolers out this season, and have had some great learning experiences along with some great performances.

Not having the 2020 Season meant that the first meet in Hartington we were dropped off with no one with any experience at a real track meet.

I am thankful for a few amazing mammas who stepped in and helped us get through that first time. Alex McKamy and Jean Granquist joined me this season being my new sidekicks. Both of them added so many good things to our program and really worked to learn everything they could, and we had quite a good time doing it.

Some of the highlights this year included Preston Rose breaking the 1600 record, the 4x100 relay of Caleb Erwin, Preston Rose, Micah Timberlake and Gibson Roberts running a 50.34 to break the school record, and Tali Erwin breaking the high jump record going 5’0. As a team, both boys and girls won the Laurel Invite and the Winside Invite. We had a successful and fun filled year. Let me highlight each athlete this year starting with the eighth graders.

Koby Detlefsen was a distance runner and Triple Jump. He went 30-4 at the Winside Invite placing fourth. The best thing about Koby is he worked hard, had fun doing it, and at the end was able to tell me exactly how his time or jump compared to the last effort. He worked so hard to improve each meet. He also helped in our 4x400 relay this year. Koby is a great kid and will be missed in the middle school program next year.

Caleb Erwin was a fun surprise this year. I knew he was athletic but didn’t really realize how talented he was until the season got going. Everytime I would hear what he jumped in long jump, I heard an improvement. In Long Jump he went 17-6 at the Winside Invite for one of his many first place finishes.

His competitiveness also came out in High Jump as Gibson Roberts and Caleb were often the last two jumpers. At the Winside Invite Caleb cleared 5-0 for a second place finish. Caleb also went to work on the track for us this season in the 100 with a start in the Hartington Invite with a time of 13.45 and placing first at the Winside invite with a time of 12.57. Caleb was also a part of our 4x100 relay this season with many successful meets. Caleb is only going to get stronger and hopefully faster so he is going to be a fun athlete to watch in high school next year.

Eli Haisch is like the Energizer Bunny. If there is a competition, this kid is going to be in the thick of things. He tells us every stinking day how Haisch’s are built differently……..and he has put the work in this season in track. I feel like Eli could try anything and compete at it. He competed this season in the High Jump going 4-10 for a third place finish at the Hartington Invite. Eli also competed in Long Jump improving consistently throughout the season. Then Eli went to work in the 100 going from a 13.75 in Hartington to 13.28 in Winside. Eli is going to do great things in high school and has just the biggest heart. I can’t wait to see where his passion for this sport takes him as he is also going to get bigger and faster. Good luck as a Bear Eli.

Aric Hall has been a thrower in both shot and discus this year. He has had some great improvements. He is a technical guy, in the fact that he wants to learn a process and follow it. At the Hartington Invite, Aric threw 26-1 in the shot. He threw 68- 10 in discus. Aric was also the leader at camp at every track meet. If I needed something done, I knew that Aric was my go to guy. He has such high character and isn’t easily swayed to go away from his values. Aric will be missed at the middle school next year.

Ryder Jelinek loved the 400…...right Ryder? He was a part of the 4x400B relay and ran the open 400. He improved throughout the season and honestly we didn’t hear much out of him, he was just a quiet leader. Ryder also tried the triple jump throughout the season. Ryder will work hard to be a solid part of the Bears in the future.

Connor Korth ran hurdles this year. Connor works hard everyday he comes to track practice. There were days where self doubt became his biggest enemy, but his ability to stick with it yielded some great performances throughout the season. He improved each meet and was a part of the 4x400B relay which also improved this season. It is going to be fun to see Connor get more experience in track next season as a Bear. He is a great kid with an amazing work ethic. You can do anything you put your mind to Connor, but you will be missed in Blue. Carter Korth came up to me af

Carter Korth came up to me after a tough spill in the hurdles and told me he didn’t want to hurdle anymore. I am so glad we got to have that heart to heart talk and discuss that pretty knees are optional…..to which he told me he enjoyed walking. He stuck with it and landed a time of 18.63 at Winside Invite for first place. He also ran the 200 hurdles with a start time of 31.3 in the Hartington Invite and placed second in the Winside Invite. 13-5 was his first long jump in Hartington Invite to Triple Jump in the Winside Invite placing sixth with a jump of 13-5. Carter is one of those athletes that once given a little pep talk he could do any event in track. They don’t get any tougher than this kid, and I know he will be an asset to the Bears next year.

Edgar Marin, I tell you what he is, a mover and a shaker. He would come out everyday at practice and would run the warm up 400, just go like lightning for the first 300, and then would settle in to get a little competition going. He is just such a great kid and athlete. Edgar competed in the 4x400 relay, ran a 1:06 in the 400 at Winside Invite, and 1:04 at the LCC Invite. He tried his hand at jumping events and also the 200 this year. Edgar can do anything he puts his mind to that is for sure and will be missed in Bulldog Blue next year.

Gibson Roberts is another one of those kids that you could put anywhere and he would score points for this team. He high jumped very successfully this season going 5-0 on various occasions and placing at every meet. Gibson then was a part of our record setting 4x100 relay. Gibson ran the 200 throughout the season with a PR of 26.82 at the LCC Invite. He also ran the 400 where he ran a 60.0 at our own final meet of the season. Gibson will be a nice addition to the high school squad.

Preston Rose is a name you are going to hear around the Track for the next four years. Wow, this kid is impressive. He ran the 1600, the 1200, the 800 and the 200. Then he also decided to try long jump and ran in various relays including the record setting 4x100 relay. He also broke the record in the mile and was two seconds shy of the 800 record that still stands from 1974. Preston often runs on weekends and is so innerly motivated. I know he is going to make an immediate impact for our high school Bears next year. Good Luck Preston.

Walker Stone was a great surprise to himself and us this year in the throws.

Walker is so willing to do whatever we asked throughout the year. In the shot, he threw a season best throw of 34-4 at the Winside Meet. In discus, he threw 71”4 at the Laurel Invite. Walker was also a member of the weightman’s relay and, would run the 400, and the 4x400 relay when needed. Walker is just a good worker and wants to improve. I am going to miss Walker next year, good luck Bud.

Micah Timberlake was so fun to watch this season. He improved with each meet. He ran the 110 hurdles and 195 hurdles and placed in various meets. At our Laurel Invite, his time in the 110 hurdles was 19.53 and was great competition with Carter Korth. He also played an important role in the record setting 4x100 relay. It was fun to watch him improve this season, and I look forward to what he is able to accomplish in high school.

Trey Pounds worked hard this season to improve, and he did just that. He started the year by running the 800 and then went to the 200 and then ended up in the hurdles which he really improved at. In the 110 hurdles at the Laurel Invite, he placed sixth with a time of 20.85. Also at that invite, he placed fifth in the 195 hurdles with a time of 33.35. Good luck next year in high school Trey.

Clara Brummels improved in shot and discus this season. She also ran in the weightman’s relay at the Winside Invite. At the Laurel Invite, Clara threw 35-0 in the discus and rounded out her season throwing the shot 13-6.6’. Clara was a worker, and we didn’t hear much out of her. Best of luck in high school Clara.

Jayden Campbell was another athlete that tried a lot of different events. She has pretty good foot speed so we started her off in the 400, she did quite well there. But then as the season went on, we saw how quick she really was so she landed in the 100 and also in the 4x100 relay. I know that Jayden is going to get quicker and stronger so she will be fun to watch as a freshman. She also will benefit from more experience in track. She could do a lot of events but not having the 2020 season really showed for these eighth graders like Jayden. She will do great in high school.

Ava Christiansen was a high jumper who went 4-4 this season at the Laurel Invite. Ava and I talked a lot this season about just getting out there and doing our best, and the fear of not being the best really isn’t a thing we should even think about. She did great. She also ran the 400 in 1:18 at the Laurel Invite. She was also a member of the 4x400 relay team. Ava, you can do anything you put your mind to and I can not wait to see the great things that come to you in high school.

Tali Erwin’s work in gymnastics was easily seen in track season this year, she is agile and quick. Tali is a school record holder after this season in the high jump going 5”0. She also long jumped, placing first at the Laurel Invite with a jump of 14”10. She then went to work on the track in the 100 (13.95 at Pierce) and 200 (29.03 also at Pierce). She was a consistent four event medalist at our meets this season. I am excited to see what an impact she makes right away with the Bears next year. Good luck kiddo.

Lilyan Fox worked hard in shot and discus this year. Lilyan was another one of our quiet leaders, I never heard her complain, she just did what she needed to do and it was fun to see her improve. She also ran the Weightman’s Relay at the Winside Invite, and I feel like that smile showed that she somewhat enjoyed it. At the Laurel Invite, Lilyan threw 13’6.5” in the shot and 28’2 in the discus. I personally can’t believe she is going to be a freshman next year but I wish you all the best girl.

Julia Johnson is another little gymnast that has some great foot speed and jumping ability. Julia ran the 400 in a time of 1:16 at our first meet and then we decided that was her event. She was very consistent at that time. I loved talking to her after a race and listening to her say how she wanted to improve her time, she is very driven, as a coach I love that. Julia also long jumped with a jump of 11-8 at our Laurel Invite. Julia was also a part of both relays at different times throughout the year. Good season Julia and good luck.

Kylla Klaussen was a jack of all trades. She did everything from running to throwing. She told me at one meet she didn’t care what she did, she just enjoyed trying. That is a great mindset. Kylla ran the 400 at our Laurel Invite and clocked a time of 1:34. Kylla also competed in discus at our Invitational throwing 38’3. Kylla I wish you well in high school, it was a fun season.

Josilyn Martin started out the season in long jump and ended the season in long jump going 11-10 at the Laurel Invite. She also ran hurdles throughout the season where she was quite consistent. Josilyn was also a member of the 4x100 relay. But the event that I am probably most excited about is the 1200 or 1600 for Josilyn. She had an opportunity to run both of these events and did very well at the end of the season. I wish we would have explored them earlier, but I know she is very driven and will work hard to improve as a Bear next year.

Yasmine Miranda also tried a variety of events as the year went on. We tried sprints and long distance and she just worked hard in everything she did. Yasmine also tried out the relays. I just admire her work ethic and her willingness to try new things. Yasmine will do great things in high school.

Mia O’Quinn tried out the hurdles this year and worked to improve every meet. She also tried to throw shot where she threw 16’-1 at the Laurel Invite. Mia’s times in the hurdles at the Laurel invite were 27.42 in the 100 hurdles and 60.58 in the 195 Hurdles. It was fun to see Mia work hard and compete at each meet. Good luck in high school Mia.

Lilly Pehrson also worked hard this season and we worked to find the best event for her. She tried a variety of things. She ran in the relays and did some distance running and some sprints. At the Laurel Invite she ran the 400 and clocked a time of 1:24. Lily was another one of those quiet leaders who just came to practice and worked hard every time she was here. Good luck in high school Lilly.

Rachel Rasmussen had terrible shin splints at the end of the season but that didn’t stop her from playing a vital role in the team this year. She tripled jumped throughout the season and at the Laurel Invite she grabbed second place going 28-7. Then she went to work on the track in the 100 hurdles she also got second place at the Laurel Invite with a time of 18.96. She also placed second in the 195 hurdles at the same meet. She also ran in our successful 4x100 throughout the season. She is a solid performer and I know she is going to score some points for the Bear Squad next year. Go Rachel.

Bailey Rickard was a solid performer in all of her events. At the Laurel Invite, she threw 24-5” in the shot and placed fourth at the Laurel Invite. She also worked hard in the hurdles participating and improving in both the 100 and 195 hurdles throughout the year. I loved to see her working hard and just trying to improve. Great season, Bailey.

Emma Sohler is a talented athlete. She could have tried just about anything and she would have done well in. She has a long stride and just is a fun runner to watch. She played an important role in our girls’ relay teams. She also ran the 100 and 200 and 400 throughout the year. At the Laurel Invite she clocked a time of 33.08 in the 200. She had a hip injury that really hampered her this season, but I am excited to see what she does as she gets stronger. Good Luck as a Bear Emma.

Ryleigh Specht also tried a lot of different events this year trying to find her niche. She tried the high jump going 4-4. She played a role in many of our relays at different meets. She also ran some 400 and sprints. Good luck as a Bear next year Ryleigh.

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