HEM sends entire track team to State

“I could burst,” said Hanna-Elk Mountain-Medicine Bow (HEM) high school track coach Jackie Jones. She was commenting about how the entire track team made state.

Of the good showing in Gillette over the weekend Jones said, “Over the weekend the girls team actually set 13 new personal records and the boys had seven.”

Shane McGraw placed first in the boys 800-meter dash with time of 51.26.

Cheyenne Tomkins placed first in the 1,600-meter run timed at 2:40.13 and Cheyenne Hunter was first in the discus with 102’ 06”. The girls team got first in 4x800 relay. Tomkins, Jessica Nelson, Cloe Olson and Taylee Widdison timed 11:19.62.

“It was so evident that the kids were ready to put out all they had in order to qualify for state and help their team earn valuable team points,” remarked Jones.

Shane McGraw also placed fourth in the 200-meter dash at 11.77, second in the 400-meter dash with 23.45 and second in the 1,600-meter run at 2:04.34.

His brother, Conor McGraw, came in second in the 200-meter dash at 11.71, second in the 300-meter hurdles and second in 110-meter hurdles

The boys 4x800-meter relay team came in third. Brandon Scott, Kyle Solass. Tylor Goodro and Alex Claice timed at 4:19.47.

Jarret Neimark placed third in the triple jump at 40-3.50 and Goodro placed fourth in the shot put with 38.10.

Katrina Tolbert, a resident of Hanna who went to Gillette to watch the meet, said, “It was amazing to watch this group. They are good kids and great to see them all go to state.”

The girls team came in second on the 4x400 relay. Tomkins, Nelson, Olson and Widdison timed 4:41.95. In shot put Tomkins placed third with 30’08” and Hunter came in fourth 30’7.5”.

“It is not only the kids to be proud of. Jackie and Cliff have done a wonderful job,” said Tolbert, referring to the coaches of HEM track.