STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
At our pre-state meeting Thursday, the coaches brought up that the meet would be like a roller coaster. Some ups, some downs, etc. That was an understatement. By the time the 39-hour adventure was over, about every emotion imaginable had occurred. I have decided to try to detail the meet as it occurred- with some deviations- times are estimates.
FRIDAY
6:00 am- Board the bus, head to Provo.
8:50 am- 1600m run- Brandon Yardley begins the race, drops out after three laps as his breathing wasn’t working. Oxygen helps when running long distances.
9:00 am- Pole Vault begins- Jake Zaugg and Zach Watson bye early heights.
10:00 am- Jaxon Worthen (15.39) and Shane Russell (15.57) run the #2 and #4 times in the 110m hurdle trials.
10:45 am- Kavika Fonua (11.22) and Jake Garver (11.24) make finals in the 100m dash over many athletes seeded much higher.
10:50 am- Pole vault suspended due to terrible weather.
11:00 am- Sam Segura, Courtney Lemmons, Shelby Cadwell and Rachel Lemmons run 52.87, narrowly missing finals in the 4x100m relay. Sam “bites the dust” to make sure the handoff takes place.
11:20 am- Fonua, Garver, Jeff Knighton and Brennan O’Neil run great in the downpour turning in a time of 44.16 to make the finals of the 4x100m relay in the #5 spot.
12:00 pm- Yardley has gone to the emergency room to get his “fix”, returns in time to run 51.23 to make finals in the 400m dash in the #7 spot. Jeff Knighton made a great individual sacrifice deciding not to run the open 400 so he can help in all three relays.
1:00 pm- Courtney Lemmons breaks the school record in the long jump leaping 16'06.50 to place 6th.
1:45 pm- Mike Russell (41.13), Jake Garver (41.19), and Shane Russell (41.55) qualify in the #2, #4 and #5 spots in the 300m hurdles. Unfortunately, Jake was later DQ’ed for a hurdle violation. Close call, but probably correct.
2:30 pm- Following a long rain/wind delay, the pole vault resumes. Jake Zaugg (13'06) and Zach Watson (15'00) complete the most appropriate 1-2 event finish ever. The 18 points were huge. The satisfaction, not only for two athletes but also the old coach, even better than the points.
2:45 pm- Sarah Sperry, Sam Segura, Katrina Dunlap and Cheyna Field run a gutsy medley relay to make finals with a 4:28.87 time.
3:15 pm- Brittney Martin’s 35'07.25 toss in the shot put is good enough for 4th place.
3:45 pm- Jake Zaugg, Will Haddick, Jeff Knighton and Landon Greenhalgh run 3:39.75 in the medley relay to make the finals with the fastest time.
4:45 pm- Matt Dunston (23.15), Brennan O’Neil (23.54) and Alex Vanderloo (23.74) run good races but do not make finals in the 200m dash.
5:15 pm- Brad Sherman makes the podium by throwing 149'01 to place 3rd in the discus.
5:45 pm- Sperry, Segura, Dunlap and Field again run tough to clock a time of 4:16.53 in the 4x400m relay, just missing finals.
6:20 pm- Knighton, Dunston, Watson and Jaxon Hansen run 3:28.03 to qualify for finals in the 4x400m relay with the fastest time in the trials.
7:15 pm- Pack up and head home
SATURDAY
6:00 am- Catch the bus again.
8:00 am- Mason Woodward PR’s in the javelin throwing 158'00 to finish 9th, just out of scoring.
10:00 am- Sarah Sperry jumps 4'11 in the high jump. A little off her best, but a good effort.
11:45 am- Shane Russell runs 15.42 into a big headwind to place 3rd in the 110m hurdles. Jaxon Worthen had step problems to the first hurdle and finished 7th in 15.87.
12:15 pm- Fonua runs 11.10 in the 100m dash to place 6th, just .07 out of 2nd.
12:30 pm- Jace Skidmore fouls on a big jump but is able to salvage a 19'11 and gain experience for next year.
1:30 pm- Running together for the first time all year, Fonua, Garver, Knighton and Watson sprint to a 43.40 in the 4x100m relay to place 4th.
2:30 pm- Yardley runs a PR of 50.11 in the 400m dash to place 7th.
3:00 pm- Spencer Hull, following 33 hours of supporting all of the Titan athletes, throws 47'06 in the shot put to finish 4th.
3:15 pm- Mike Russell (41.06) and Shane Russell (41.60) finish 4th and 5th in the 300m hurdles to gain big points.
3:30 pm- The Titans have performed well. There have been some great performances and outstanding efforts. However, it looks like 2nd place is not possible. Riverton appears to have a lock on the silver trophey. However, an incredible two-hours is about to take place.
3:45 pm- Jaxon Hansen runs an incredible 1:53.53 in the 800m run to finish 2nd. This is a school record and one of the top times ever run in Utah. Yardley, not long after his 400m dash effort, moves from 9th to 3rd over the last 150 meters to give the Titans 14 points. His 1:55.06 so soon after his PR 400 was amazing.
4:15 pm- Sperry, Segura, Dunlap and Field improve on the great effort in the trials to run 4:24.15 in the medley relay finals to place 6th. Cheyna holding off the Jordan runner down the homestretch was a fitting conclusion to a great career at Syracuse.
4:30 pm- Zaugg, Knighton, Mike Russell and Landon Greenhalgh all run great legs to finish 2nd in the medley relay in 3:35.61. Mike’s outstanding 50.8 400m leg came just an hour after placing 4th in the 300m hurdles. Landon ran a great race to keep the Titans in the hunt for a trophy.
5:00 pm- Riverton’s big finish in the 200m dash brought them within one point of the Titans.
5:45 pm- The Titans hold a one-point lead over Riverton with just the 4x400m relay to go. Riverton has run 3:20.00. We have run 3:24.56. No chance for Syracuse. What follows is the greatest 4x400m relay ever run in Utah high school history. Knighton leads off in 50.7 (his first 200 probably would have won the 200). Dunston follows with a great 50.4 leg putting us in the hunt. Yardley’s 48.8 gets the stick around for the incredible final lap. Hansen challenges the state’s fastest 400m runner every step of the way to finish about a meter behind in second place. The result was a 2nd place trophy for Riverton by one point. The Titans run 3:18.88, the #5 time EVER run in Utah high school history. Riverton’s 3:18.62 was the #3 mark ever run. Prediction: this feat will never be duplicated as long as this old coach is around.
9:00 pm- Arrive back at SHS.
It would have been great to have brought home the silver trophy. That didn’t happen. What I think everyone who was there over the duration of the 39-hours brought home was a collection of memories that will last forever. Even if they did not compete in the meet. As coaches, we appreciate the hard work and support of those who understand what is meant by TEAM versus what is meant by ME.
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Chosen as Athletes of the Week were: Cheyna Field, Kavika Fonua, Brennan O’Neil and Will Haddick. All did a great job at State as competitors and supporters. And Cheyna has been a great competitor for three years at Syracuse. She will be missed.
BREAKING NEWS
I’m not sure of the exact time, but I hear Haley Busby ran 3:24:40 for the Ogden Marathon. WOW!!! An incredible race for Coach Busby!!! She has now qualified for Boston.
TITAN DECATHLON
We will hold the Titan Decathlon Tuesday and Wednesday. This is for Boys and Girls. The events are: First day- 100m dash, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400m dash. Second day- 100/110m hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, 1500m run. A lot of fun.
CROSS COUNTRY MEETING
For all sophomores and juniors interested in running cross country, there will be a meeting Thursday, May 24th at 3:30 in the “Blue Room”. The later time is to allow junior high students a chance to get over to the school. Show up and bring some recruits.
BARBECUE/AWARDS CHANGE
Because of so many conflicts, the barbecue/awards event will be Tuesday, May 29th at 5:30. This will be for all athletes and parents. We will eat and hand out some deserving awards. Nothing formal- just a relaxing evening to reflect on a great year.
END OF YEAR EVENTS
Tuesday/Wednesday, May 22/23- Titan Decathlon- Men’s and Women’s
Thursday, May 24- Deadline for Uniform Check-In: You are on the fine list after this date and I will be slow to remove you when things are turned in.
Thursday, May 24- Cross Country Meeting, 3:30 in the Blue Room.
Tuesday, May 29- Barbecue/Awards Evening at 5:30.
Jun 1-2 - Great Southwest Classic
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