HEM digs in at Thermopolis

by Mike Armstrong

The Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) Miners went to the well-attended Bobcat Invite in Thermopolis and had a good showing.

There were 28 teams from around the state and 506 athletes competing.

A top 20 showing by any athlete was going to be a good result much less a top 10. HEM had two athletes place in the top five.

Avery Scott came in 5th in the 100 meter dash and the 400 meter dash. T’lyssa Solaas came in 5th 100 meter hurdles.

“I thought both girls did really well,” said Head Coach Jackie Jones. “Avery was able to pre-qualify in the 400, which has been eluding her, although she has been inching towards it all season and as of now she pre-qualified in five events.”

Jones said now decisions must be made.

“I will decide on which relay we should move forward with, because Avery is qualified in two relays, along with Rainey (Wilson), T’lyssa and Justine (Widdinson),” Jones said. “Then with T’lyssa she prequalified in the 100 hurdles and she loves that event and I was glad to see her get it.”

Jones was happy with Wilson, Solaas and Widdison in the 800 meter race. They came in 9th, 11th and 12th respectively.

On the boys side Joseph Borah came in 7th in the discus. She felt this was outstanding because he had missed some days of practice and she knew he was going in a little rusty.

“Considering the missed practices, he came out and did a nice job for us,” Jones said.

Jones had some praise for freshman Cody Priest.

“We just keep seeing good things from Cody in his throws and hit another PR,” Jones said. “He applies what he learns in practice and he continues to improve and those are always good moments for us.”

Jones said with athletes participating from 3A, 2A and 1A schools there is going to be solid competition. She said it is a glimpse of what to expect when they go to regionals. Jones felt the Miners did well at the meet, but she said there is more to the meet than placing.

“We always enjoy going to the Thermopolis track meet,” Jones said. “They do a very nice job of running it efficiently and it turns out to be a great experience for the kids just before regionals.”

She said with regionals next on the horizon there are decisions to be made.

“All season we tell the kids to go out and put forth their best effort and times and distances will be the barometer for the events in regionals and looking towards state,” Jones said. “Now it has come to that point we have some decisions to make where to place kids and how to move forward.”

She said deciding which relay they will run will probably affect what individual races athletes will compete in.

“We will plug away this week’s run or shine and then we will go from there,” Jones said. “I look at an athlete like freshman Justine Widdison who has continued to improve and push herself throughout the season and looking at what could be a good positive experience for her as she qualifies for state in events. We love the placings and the team points but sometimes you have to look at the individual athletes and think what is best for them as well.”

HEM will be going to Newcastle for regionals.