Lady Miners secure a win at State

The Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) Miner High School field and track left State in a great mood after digging out a 1st place win in the girls 4 X 800 relay race. Justine Widdison, T’lyssa Solaas, Rainey Wilson and Avery Scott ran their way to all state honors.

Head field coach Jackie Jones was elated.

“Fortunately we had the team pre-qualified before regionals, because we didn’t have T’lyssa at regionals,” Jones said. “It was a blessing and we decided to run the 4 X 800 based on times and what other teams were looking at. We knew Saratoga, Burlington and Hulett would have solid teams and our goal was to be top three, so to pull off the state championship in that event was pretty awesome for those four girls.”

Jones said although thrilled with the win, she was not surprised it happened.

“I knew we had a shot and they had a goal of beating the school record,” Jones said.

“They came up a bit shy for the record but coming up with a state win was a good consolation.”

On the boys side of the team, Joseph Borah placed 3rd in the shot put.

“For Joseph to place where he did at regionals (he came in 8th) and go to 3rd in state and in doing so, he actually beat all the kids the beat him in regionals,” Jones said. “That was quite the accomplishment for him and it was a great way to end his senior year.”

Borah has faced an injury prone year which has kept him from playing football and wrestling.

“Given all the adversity of the year for him, it was such a positive thing for him to get up on that podium at the state meet,” Jones said. “He did not throw like he knows how to at regionals so it was wonderful for him to come back the way he did at state.”

Besides being on the winning relay team, Scott placed 4th in the 100 meter dash, 5th in the 200 meter and 5th in the 400 meter dash.

“Avery being a sophomore and go to state and bring home four medals is nothing to be ashamed of,” Jones said. “She competed very well.”

Freshman Widdison not only participated in the relay win, she placed 5th in the 300 hurdles.

“As a freshman she missed beating the school record by less than a second,” Jones said. “Her being on that championship team and performing as well as she did in the 300 hurdles, the fire is fueled.”

A freshman on the boys side was Jared Nelson who competed in the 1600 and 3200 did not place but Jones felt him being in the races was invaluable for the future.

“It was a good lesson for him as he learned proper warm up and compete in lousy conditions,” Jones said. “I think we will see improve as time goes on.”

Jones looks back at the season and recognizes the adversity the teams this year faced.

“Weather was challenging whether it was practice or meets,” Jones said. “We had it cancel meets but we had athletes push through with strong perseverance. It was great to see some of our younger athletes inspire our more experienced athletes.”

Jones said the season had its successes not only at State, but also for the athletes who didn’t place.

“A student like Dylan Romero who had never been in track and field before and as a senior who wasn’t doing it for football or basketball next year, continued to set personal records all the way to regionals,” Jones said. “He did it for the team and himself.”

She also mentioned freshman Cody Priest as an athlete Jones sees with potential although he did not make it to state.

“He really took what he was taught in practice with those throws and would go to a meet and apply it,” Jones said. “I look for Cody to improve and he was at the State meet watching the big throwers and I could see him learning.”

Jones said losing seniors Wilson and Solaas will be tough.

“I can’t replace a Rainey Wilson or a T’lyssa Solaas but we have young ladies who will be able to fill spots and continue what I consider to a longstanding tradition of excellence HEM track.”

Jones enjoyed seeing all three Carbon County School District No 2 high schools have a 1st place win at State.

“It was awesome to see so many Carbon 2 athletes as we did on the podium,” Jones said. “Watching some of the competitors from the district was pretty amazing. Of course Saratoga girls winning the state championship was great, then witnessing Quade Jordan from Encampment winning the shot-put was excellent. I look at athletes like Allison Bromley from Encampment who runs distance and is also on their 4 X 100 and realize we have some very talented athletes in our district and all competed in those horrid conditions. I think it speaks volumes of the caliber of kids this county produces.”