The Laurel-Concord-Coleridge Junior High Track Team recently completed a very successful track season.
They competed in a total of five meets with one meet being canceled due to weather.
The Junior High had excellent participation this year as 36 seventh and eighth graders were part of the team. The track team was led by a strong group of eighth graders. They demonstrated excellent leadership throughout the season by working hard and helping out younger athletes.
Throughout the year the team made great strides as they improved their times and distances. They also showed great resilience as the team dealt with injuries and had athletes step up to fill the roles of injured athletes.
The first few meets were used to give athletes opportunities to try many different events and hone their skills in that event.
These meets led to the Junior High Greater Northeast Activities Conference Conference Meet (GNAC) held in West Holt. LCC athletes competed well and set numerous personal bests at the Conference Meet amid very tough competition.
Top four finishers for the boys were Owen Johnson fourth place in the 800, Turner Thompson second place in the shot put, Foster Stone third place in the shot put and James Recob third place in the Discus.
For the girls, Kloie Ferris was the Conference Champion in the 200, Madison Olson placed third in the mile, Kloie Ferris fourth in the 100m Hurdles, Madison Olson fourth in the discus and Nora Specht third in the long jump.
Additionally, the girls 4X100 relay team placed third with team members Nora Specht, Kloie Ferris, Hazley Folkers and Ruby Jonas.
The Junior High track team saved their best performance for the final meet of the year. Both the boys and girls teams placed second in the Winside Meet that was hosted in Laurel.
The girls team narrowly missed out on being meet champions by two points.
Coach Eric DePew said, “I was very proud of the entire team this year. They worked hard and improved throughout the season. Both teams finishing second at the Winside Meet was a terrific way to finish the year. I am going to miss the eighth graders as they move to high school, but look forward to seeing them compete at the next level.”
