The Yuma High School athletics team had a great run at the Class 2A Athletics Championships last week at Jefferson County Stadium in Lakewood.
Getting 29 points and finishing 11th in the ranking is not bad.
It was only slightly overshadowed by the boys’ team, which won the 2A title, the second in school history and the first since 1996.
“Some of the girls came out on the field with the boys and they said they were so happy but also jealous,” said YHS head coach Lucas Lubbers. “I have assured you that your time will come. I’m excited to see what you can do in the years to come. “
Julissa Garcia finished fourth in the 100-meter run at the 2A State Meeting last week. (Dave Gustafson)
Almost everyone who participated in the state will return next season. Senior sprinter Julissa Garcia and middle distance runner Shelby Blach are sure to be missing, but there are plenty of track and field talent coming back.
Lubbers said that in the one-off season D, a competitive fire permeated the entire program. There weren’t many seniors on either team, but they set the tone for the dedication and hard work that had to be done.
“It was fun to see how both (teams) just have that competitive spirit and have fun too,” said Lubbers. “We want to keep up the excitement for athletics every year, even if we have a few years of absence here and there.”
Garcia was the only member of the girls’ team to attend individual events in the state.
The senior ran her preliminary round in the 100-meter run on Thursday afternoon and finished fourth with a time of 12.97 seconds. She was back on track later that day, running the 200 meter heats. She narrowly missed qualifying for the final and finished 11th in 27.55 seconds.
However, she made the most of her 100 meter final place and improved slightly to 12.94 seconds for fourth place on Saturday.
Garcia was also among those involved with the seasons as the girls had four seasons in the state and placed in each of them.
The 800 sprint medley was on the track for its preliminary round on Thursday afternoon. The quartet of Lyndsey Mekelburg, Caddis Robinson, Garcia and Lea Richardson qualified sixth in 1: 55.39 for the final on Friday.
Caddis Robinson, Julissa Garcia, Lea Richardson and Lyndsey Mekelburg after placing in the 800 sprint medley. (Dave Gustafson)
The 4×800 team of Hailey Eyring, Ashley Ibanez, Lea Richardson and Shelby Blach took to the track for the final later that afternoon. The foursome scored the tribe’s first points at the state meeting, finishing fifth in 10: 46.45.
On Friday, the Yuma girls competed in the 4-by-100 and 4-by-400 heats, along with the 800 medley final.
Mekelburg, Richardson, Garcia and Robinson sprinted the fastest time in qualifying and raced across the track in 52.06 seconds.
The same four then finished fifth in the 800 sprint medley final with a time of 1: 55.79.
The 4-by-400 foreplay took place later in the day, with Ibanez, Eyring, Blach and Richardson qualifying for the final in sixth place in 4: 40.43.
Hailey Eyring runs in the 4×800 season. (Dave Gustafson)
Two more finals for the girls were thus prepared on Saturday.
With some more strong efforts, they moved up in the team points.
The 4-by-100 took place after 3pm, with Mekelburg, Richardson, Garcia and Robinson finishing second in 52.46 seconds.
The state meeting concluded with the 4-by-400 final. Ibanez, Eyring, Blach and Richardson paid off the wait and finished fifth with 4: 22.97, more than eight seconds faster than their qualifying time.
Shelby Blach, Senior / Graduate, helped the Yuma girls place themselves into two seasons at the 2A meeting. (Dave Gustafson)
Richardson ended the meet with four state titles in the seasons, joining guys Kail Cooper and Beau Tate as four-time placers last week.
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