Rams Participate in Nonscored Quad Meet

The Track and Field Rams competed in a nonscored quad meet at Centralia with Carbondale, and  Marion on Wednesday.  "The entire team was able to compete and get some needed work without the weather being a factor," said Caoch Clint Turner.  "We are improving each time we run and gaining experience."
     It is great to see some of the kids starting to come around and post some good times for this time of year.  Sophomore Joe Capps ran a personal best time in the 400 m dash of 53.6, Senior Jyron Oliver ran a personal best in the 300 intermediate hurdles in 41.7, Freshman David Lee ran 45.7 in 300 IMH, Sophomore Andrew Mendenall long jumped a p.r. 19-4, Sr. Yonas Habtemariam p.r. shot put of 42-4, Sr. Ryan Schmidt ran p.r. 3200 and 1600 races, 11:07 and 5:17, Sr. Jeremy Williams ran a p.r. 1600 in 5:09,   Jr. Sean Weigel threw for a p.r. in the discus at 134-9 1/2, and Chicken Stuckey long jump 19-9 1/2.
      The sprint relays, 4x100 and 4x200 are improving each they are run.  The 4x2 team of Dontrell Black, Jacob Alvis, Darrell Mitchell, and  Jordan Echols ran a season best time of 1:35.8.  The same team in the 4x1 with Chicken as the anchor has ran 45.5 and is steadily improving.  An important improvement for the team has been the return of junior distance runner Perry Borah from his calf injury.  His 32/16 double today indicates he is getting back to normal, it is the first distance double for him this year.  We look for his times to drop as his fitness returns to the level he is used to.  Junior Chandler Kirsch ran under 15 seconds for the first time in his career in the high hurdles at 14.9.  Mount Vernon will compete in the Orphan Relays at Centralia on Saturday.

Rams Compete Among 22 Teams at Belleville West

On Saturday, the Rams traveled to BellevilleWest for the annual "Mineral Area" track meet.  22 teams competed and the rams finished in the middle of the pack with an 11th place finish.  The team was lead by Sean Wiegel's 2nd and 3rd place finishes in the shot put and discus respectively.  Sean had his best day with the shot this year, with a solid series of throws, each throw bettered his previous, including the final two throws that were over the 50 foot mark (50-1 and 50-2).  This was the first 50+ throws of the outdoor season; it is not uncommon for a performance slump with the event because of the adjustment to the smaller circumference shot put.  Sean was happy with his work on the day in both weight events.

Campbell Walters was third overall in the 3200 run with a time of 10:14 seconds.  The 4x100 relay of Dontrell Black, Jacob Alvis, Darrell Mitchell, and Chicken Stuckey placed 6th overall.  Campbell is in his first year of running track and he is learning allot about racing with each race.  Positioning in a pack , as well as, learning to run multiple races in a day are things that will help him latter in the year. He was able to go through the first mile today at 4:56 and that is a big step in order to run times under the 10:00 mark for two miles.  The sprint relays are also learning about racing and particularly with the warming up to race,  and passing the baton efficiently. Each race is valuable experience for later in the season.  Jacob is the only one of the four that is a veteran of running track and relay racing and he has helped the relay teams improve.  Dontrell, Darrell, and Chicken are first year runners but are improving and learning from each meet, I hope the times will continue to improve. 
We have had to leave allot of top performers at home the last few meets for various reasons, i.e. minor injuries, sickness, but hopefully we will get everyone together as soon as possible and put together a top team performance.
 
The Rams will run Tuesday and Saturday at Centralia.  Tuesday will be a triangular with Carbondale at Centralia and Saturday is the Centralia Orphan Relays.

Rams Finish Fourth At Marion Track Meet

The Rams competed at Marion with Carbondale, Centralia, and Salem, finishing fourth with 68 points, while Carbondale and Salem tied for first with 90 points, Marion was third with 75 and Centralia placed fifth behind Mount Vernon at 51 points.
 
Here are the Rams Results:
 
4x800 2nd 8:52.7 campbell walters/josh williams/jeremy williams/caleb cross
 
4x100 3rd 45.5 black/alvis/mitchell/stuckey
 
3200 run perry borah 4th 11:18

110 hh chandler kirsch 1st  15.2** ties p.r.
 
100 dash 3rd dontrell black 11.4* p.r
 
800 run jared wilemon 6th 2:13.8
 
4x200 2nd black/alvis/mitchell/stuckey 1:37.2
 
400 dash jesse taylor 5th 56.4
 
300 imh kirsch 2nd 42.2* p.r.
 
1600 run  Cross 2nd 4:45 3rd walters 4:50
 
200 dash black 3rd 23.8* p.r.
 
shot put sean wiegel 2nd 47-2 1/2 yonas habtemeriem 4th 41-2 1/2
 
discus wiegel 3rd 132-9* p.r.
 
high jump kirsch 2nd 6-0
 
Coach Clint Turner was pleased with his team.  "I was impressed with Dontrell Black and his efforts in the sprint events, he ran p.r.'s in both the 100 and 200 dashes and led-off our 4x100 and 4x200.  Chicken Stuckey also looked good as the anchor man in the relays.  Darrell Mitchell and Jacob Alvis had good efforts in those races.  Chandler had another good night in his events and set or tied p.r.'s in the hurdle races."
 
The Rams boys track team will run on Saturday, April 5th at  the Belleville West Invitational.