Samantha Buxbaum
Staff writer
Hays, Kansas met some serious competition from both our Men’s and Women’s Track and Field teams this past Friday and Saturday, March 28 and 29, at the 21st Annual Alex Francis Invitational.
Day one, CC brought the fire when junior Will Richmond claimed third in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, with a time of 10:25.62, only eight seconds behind second place. Jacob Rothman, sophomore, finished strong among the field of seven with an 11:09.86.
The men also showed up the competition with a pair of 13th-place showings by sophomore Tucker Hampson in the 800-meter race and freshman Ryan Bing in the 1500-meter race.
The women also had a great start to Friday’s competition; freshman Leah Wessler and junior Rebecca Lavietes led our pack of Tigers in the 5,000-meter race, claiming sixth and seventh respectively. Sophomore Beryl Coulter and senior Annie Taylor took fourth and fifth respectively in the 800-meter.
Come the second day, there was no holding back. Freshman Ellie Swanson ran the 200-meter dash in a PR of 26.90 seconds, and sophomore Terra McDowell claimed third in the triple jump with a PR of 35 feet, two inches. McDowell continued to impress with a 14-1.75 in long jump and a powerful time of 17.42 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles.
On Saturday, the men’s team gave their head coach, Ted Castaneda, something to smile about with more season and personal bests. Sophomore William Harlow completed the 110-meter high hurdles with a personal best (16.82 seconds), and sophomore Francisco Castro got a PR (59.60) in the 400-meter race.
Our Men’s and Women’s Track and Field teams are on a roll and are heading into April with some great confidence-boosting results. Go Track and Field Tigers!