HEM does well in Green River

“It went really well,” said Jackie Jones, head coach for Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) track and field. “Especially since we had very little practice time before it.”

She said it was a first for a lot of the kids.

“It was the first time Justine (Widdison) had been on a runway, so I feel we did really well,” Jones said. “I would say it was a very successful meet. Overall there were 15 teams there and our girls came in 6th.”

She said there were pre-qualifiers for the State Meet already.

Rainey Wilson, T’lyssa Solaas, Avery Scott and Justine Widdison pre-qualified in the 4X800 relay.

“It was the first time that Justine has run a competitive 800 and she ended up having our fastest split,” Jones said. “Some that could have been freshman adrenaline, but we will sure take it.”

Jones said Avery Scott prequalified in the 200 too.

“The girls had a great start,” Jones said.

Joseph Borah also placed in shotput.

“Shotput is sort of Joseph’s thing and with him being out all his senior year for sports due to injury, it was good to see,” Jones said. “Our newcomers Anthony (Solaas) and Dylan (Romero) gave it their all. I am really excited what will happen with those boys.”

Freshman Cody Priest is also a thrower.

“Once he gets used to the high school implements, because in junior high, it is different size and different weights, Cody will do well,” Jones said. “Cody will get things figured out, because he is very coachable and he is a sponge on seeking information and we are really interested in seeing how Cody will develop.”

She feels freshman Jared Nelson, like Priest will also do well as he gains experience.

“Our numbers are small, but in all fairness this is not new to us after the basketball season,” Jones said. “Also it gives us a chance to give more one-on-one attention. I think these kids will come out better for it.”

Jones said she enjoys coaching field and track.

“It is a neat to go to competitions where you see other Carbon County schools,” Jones said. “Of course there is competition and even a little rivalry, but it is nice as a coach to talk to those opposing teams’ kids in a different situation. Cliff (Jones, the assistant coach) and I have always said there is a lot more downtime than competition time, so there opportunity to talk to Whitney Bennet at the triple jump and visit with or the Bartlett twins (Grant and Grady) running their long distance races and talking afterwards. It is just a different atmosphere in high school athletics.”

The next meet will be on March 18 at Green River.