Carbon High track competed in a region meet in Spanish Fork and a state qualifying meet at Moab this past week. Carbon Track Coach Jimmy Jewkes has been pleased with the team’s effort.
At Spanish Fork, Kayleigh Potts ran the 100 meter hurdles for the first time and took third. Jewkes thought she was a little timid in her first attempt, but she ran a clean race and did not crash. Potts specialty is the high jump and she won easily in that event, clearing 5’2”. Sophomore Dallen Quinton and junior Kyle Barrett performed well in the 100 meter run. This is Barrett’s first year on the squad and Jewkes is seeing a lot of potential.
Junior Garrett Marsing is already running strong and took first in the two mile run and second in the mile. Marsing, Barrett, Quinton and Wyatt Hansen also just missed a state qualifying time for their run in the medley relay in Spanish Fork. Spanish Fork is not a qualifying meet, but is a test to see how the team is progressing toward those goals.Hansen, a senior, is also in his first year on the team, but Jewkes also feel he will be strong in the high jump as well as his role on the medley squad.
Rachel Goodrich has greatly improved in the mile and two mile events and won both in Spanish Fork. Abby Powell, Shelby Cornforth, Diane Olsen and Goodrich put up great times in the 4×4 relay.
The team headed to Grand on Wednesday a little shorthanded. Conflicting school events left them without key members of several relay teams. But Garrett did qualify for state in the mile with a 4:32.61. That is the second fastest time in 3A right now. He turned right around two races later and posted a blazing 1:54.94 in the 800 meter.
Potts just missed setting a new school record on the high jump with a 5’3” leap. Abby Powell took third in the event. Powell also took on the 100 meter hurdles for the first time and finished 3rd.
Austin Barker is still dealing with the effects of a quad injury, but still managed a personal best in his event. Goodrich was the workhorse for the girl’s team, competing in the 3200, 1600 and 800 meter races as well as being part of the medley relay team. Despite a small quad, there are many new faces and lots of young talent.
The best thing about the early competitions is that Jewkes discovered that all the region squads are in the same position. Most are lacking depth in their squads. Jewkes feels like the region title is up for grabs and that Carbon has a shot even though they are in a little of a rebuilding year.
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