On April thirteenth at North Henderson High school, the girls 4×200 meter relay team broke the school’s record for the third time this season. Making 1:48.2 at AC Reynolds March 17, Melena Robinson, Shylee Stocks, Gracie Tate and Taylor Meadows broke the time at 1:47, at the North Henderson Open. Following the North Henderson Open, the girls achieved first at 1:45. They predict to do well at regionals and perhaps state.
“Definitely more intense (competition) because we have people we haven’t raced against, and they are definitely faster than us, but I think it will be okay because we have been dropping our time, and we have nice competition to push us,” senior Melena Robinson said.
Robinson has also broke the school record for the 100 and 200 meter dashes this season, and holds the 55 meter dash record for winter track. Senior Bradley Barham threw 54’1’’ March ninth at the North Henderson Open, breaking the school’s record by thirty one inches. He competes in discus, in addition to shot, with a personal record of 135’9.5”.
“I just need to get top four in each and I will punch my ticket to go to state,” Barham said.
Junior Madison Conner tied the school’s and the Times News meet’s high jump record at 5’4, breaking her personal record by two inches. The height had only been cleared in the fifty years of the meet’s existence.
“I was optimistic before I jumped, but after I was only excited for a second because I had to focus and jump again,” said Conner.
West Henderson’s girls track team won first place in conference, justifying their recent successes. Robinson and Barham both got Conference MVP titles.
“MVP is just a representation for hard work and striving for the best that you can be,” Barham said.
The same night, the men’s track team achieved fourth overall. The guy’s team managed to attain their standing, regardless of some of the teammate’s injuries. Junior Ross Davis has been out for the majority of the season with a severely pulled hamstring.
“At first for about a month I tried to stretch very lightly and went to our athletic trainer Andrew, and did stretching therapy, eccentric therapy, but basically it healed back the wrong way so he is having to stretch it back out again which is pretty terrible.”
Freshman Austin Jenkins was also out for a good portion of the season due to the same injury. The significant increase of athletes on West’s team compared to last year, including a large quantity of underclassmen and a few seniors has compensated for the team’s loss.
“I joined track my senior year because I quit travel soccer and wanted to challenge myself with running,” said senior Thomas Jones.
Coach Fletcher recognizes the underclassmen’s potentials, especially with the girl’s 4×800 relay team. The team is comprised of solely freshmen and is currently ranked as first in the region. Their quick times defend a future legacy to the future track team.
“This is the most school records I can remember being broke in a season,” said Coach Fletcher. “We will lose some key runners in Melena, Gracie, and other seniors, but looking at what will be coming back next year as we enter the new conference helps build confidence.”
By: Graham Neve
