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Tracksters punch tickets to state

By
Sonja Karp, NLJ Sports Editor

Two Lady Dogies and six Dogies secured a chance to continue their season last weekend at the 3A East Regional Track Meet in Rawlins. While a few had prequalified for the state meet during the season, a few more punched their ticket by finishing in the top eight in their events at regionals.

 

“It was cold and windy, but weather really wasn’t a big factor for us,” head coach Chad Ostenson began. “Our kids did really well, and I was just really pleased.”

 

Aspen Bloom was one of the two Newcastle ladies who needed a qualifying finish at the regional meet to advance, and the sophomore got it done in both the 1600 Meter and 3200 Meter races. In her first season as a varsity trackster, Bloom finished fifth in both races, and set a new personal record in the two-mile, crossing the finish line in 13:04.25.

 

“Aspen had a nice day, and qualified in the two-mile on her birthday,” Ostenson said, smiling. “She told me that she remembered the first lap or two and the last lap, and kind of blanked out of the rest. But she ran a smart race, staying right where she needed to be to get qualified.”

 

Jaylen Ostenson had prequalified for the 100 Meter Hurdle race, however, she added the Discus to her slate by also finishing fifth in that event. Unfortunately, the senior suffered a potential re-injury to her foot, which she fractured in the 2022 basketball season, so Coach Ostenson opted to have her sit out any running events last weekend. Depending on the results of a medical exam, Ostenson may or may not be competing in the hurdles this weekend at state.

 

“We decided that we didn’t want to risk causing more damage last weekend, so Jaylen didn’t run,” Ostenson began. “She also had to power throw the disc because we didn’t want her spinning.”

 

Despite being at a bit of a disadvantage, Ostenson was able to launch the discus more than 91 feet, earning her a ticket to state. 

 

On the men’s side, sprinters had a banner regional track meet, with Holden McConkey and Colton Vanderpool Mobley qualifying in the 100 and 200 Meter races and Vanderpool Mobley also secured a place in the 400 Meter race.

 

In the preliminaries of the 100 Meter, McConkey finished fourth and Vanderpool Mobley was sixth, then in the finals the two switched places,with Vanderpool Mobley coming in sixth and McConkey seventh.

 

In the 200 Meter, the two traded top finishes again. This time Vanderpool Mobley was first across the line in the prelims with his sixth-place finish, while McConkey was eighth. Then, in the finals, McConkey moved up to fourth and Vanderpool Mobley fell to eighth.

 

Finally, Vanderpool Mobley made his way to the finals in the 400 with his eighth-place finish in the prelims. In the finals, he moved up one place to seventh.

 

“Colton and Holden had one heck of a weekend, and I was really tickled with both of them!” Ostenson said. “It’s been a while since we’ve had two sprinters competing at state.”

 

Elijah Morrill punched his ticket to state in the 110 Meter Hurdles with a fourth-place finish in the prelims and a fifth-place finish in the finals of that event. 

 

The 4x100 Relay team of Vanderpool Mobley, Collin McConkey, Casey Matthews and Holden McConkey finished fourth. Although the team had prequalified, their fourth-place finish sealed the deal for them.

 

“The 4x1 team looked really great,” Ostenson reported. “We have one handoff that needs a little work, but they were right in it, even fumbling a handoff. I think they’ll do fine at state.”

 

In the field events, CJ Hardy finished second in High Jump, Matthews was third with a personal best finish of 11 feet in Pole Vault, Morrill added Triple Jump to his state slate with his seventh-place finish, and Jacob Prell placed sixth in Shot Put, giving each the chance to extend their season in those events.

 

“Eli had a great weekend in both the hurdles and the triple jump,” Ostenson said. “Both of those are really strength events and he has worked really hard to get where he is.” 

 

Bloom in the two-mile, and Morrill in the hurdles will start the state meet off in Casper Thursday, and the team will wrap things up on Saturday.

Sonja Karp

NLJ Sports Editor
 

Two Lady Dogies and six Dogies secured a chance to continue their season last weekend at the 3A East Regional Track Meet in Rawlins. While a few had prequalified for the state meet during the season, a few more punched their ticket by finishing in the top eight in their events at regionals.

“It was cold and windy, but weather really wasn’t a big factor for us,” head coach Chad Ostenson began. “Our kids did really well, and I was just really pleased.”

Aspen Bloom was one of the two Newcastle ladies who needed a qualifying finish at the regional meet to advance, and the sophomore got it done in both the 1600 Meter and 3200 Meter races. In her first season as a varsity trackster, Bloom finished fifth in both races, and set a new personal record in the two-mile, crossing the finish line in 13:04.25.

“Aspen had a nice day, and qualified in the two-mile on her birthday,” Ostenson said, smiling. “She told me that she remembered the first lap or two and the last lap, and kind of blanked out of the rest. But she ran a smart race, staying right where she needed to be to get qualified.”

Jaylen Ostenson had prequalified for the 100 Meter Hurdle race, however, she added the Discus to her slate by also finishing fifth in that event. Unfortunately, the senior suffered a potential re-injury to her foot, which she fractured in the 2022 basketball season, so Coach Ostenson opted to have her sit out any running events last weekend. Depending on the results of a medical exam, Ostenson may or may not be competing in the hurdles this weekend at state.

“We decided that we didn’t want to risk causing more damage last weekend, so Jaylen didn’t run,” Ostenson began. “She also had to power throw the disc because we didn’t want her spinning.”

Despite being at a bit of a disadvantage, Ostenson was able to launch the discus more than 91 feet, earning her a ticket to state. 

On the men’s side, sprinters had a banner regional track meet, with Holden McConkey and Colton Vanderpool Mobley qualifying in the 100 and 200 Meter races and Vanderpool Mobley also secured a place in the 400 Meter race.

In the preliminaries of the 100 Meter, McConkey finished fourth and Vanderpool Mobley was sixth, then in the finals the two switched places,with Vanderpool Mobley coming in sixth and McConkey seventh.

In the 200 Meter, the two traded top finishes again. This time Vanderpool Mobley was first across the line in the prelims with his sixth-place finish, while McConkey was eighth. Then, in the finals, McConkey moved up to fourth and Vanderpool Mobley fell 
to eighth.

Finally, Vanderpool Mobley made his way to the finals in the 400 with his eighth-place finish in the prelims. In the finals, he moved up one place to seventh.

“Colton and Holden had one heck of a weekend, and I was really tickled with both of them!” Ostenson said. “It’s been a while since we’ve had two sprinters competing at state.”

Elijah Morrill punched his ticket to state in the 110 Meter Hurdles with a fourth-place finish in the prelims and a fifth-place finish in the finals of that event. 

The 4x100 Relay team of Vanderpool Mobley, Collin McConkey, Casey Matthews and Holden McConkey finished fourth. Although the team had prequalified, their fourth-place finish sealed the deal for them.

“The 4x1 team looked really great,” Ostenson reported. “We have one handoff that needs a little work, but they were right in it, even fumbling a handoff. I think they’ll do fine at state.”

In the field events, CJ Hardy finished second in High Jump, Matthews was third with a personal best finish of 11 feet in Pole Vault, Morrill added Triple Jump to his state slate with his seventh-place finish, and Jacob Prell placed sixth in Shot Put, giving each the chance to extend their season in those events.

“Eli had a great weekend in both the hurdles and the triple jump,” Ostenson said. “Both of those are really strength events and he has worked really hard to get where he is.” 

Bloom in the two-mile, and Morrill in the hurdles will start the state meet off in Casper Thursday, and the team will wrap things up on Saturday.

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