Big Colfax track team opens season

Coach Jason Cooper loaded 42 tracksters on the bus Tuesday for a short haul to Pullman and a season launch in the ‘hounds mini invitational. Seat capacity on the team bus has been a Cooper concern in the early season because he now has 64 competitors on the track squad and bus can’t hold that many.

Tuesday, 18 of the track team members had to stay home. Cooper noted some of the coaches opted to drive to Pullman Tuesday to free up a few more bus seats.

The Bulldog girls placed second in the mini invitational, a new stop for the team this year. The boys finished third.

For the girls, the Bulldogs sprint relay teams took wins in the 4 X 100 and the 4 X 200. Amelie Bruya, CB Hatley, Hannah Harazin and Bailey Mackleit clocked a 52.4 in the short event at a 1:54.7 in the longer event.

Morgan Willson won the 3200 at 11:42 and placed second in the 800 with a 2:31.5.

Reagan Lowe, a junior, won the 400 at 1:06.5, and Mackleit, a freshman, clocked fourth in the 400 hurdles at 18.6.

The girls 4 X 400 team placed second at 4:29.6, about three ticks back of Pullman with Hatley, Lowe, Deanna Aeschliman and Willson running legs. Willson closed up the Pullman lead in the anchor lap.

Senior Kim Heiner won the pole vault at 6-6 and her sister, Leah Heiner, a freshman, placed second at 6-0. Casey Hall placed fourth at 6-0 on a later attempt.

Rachel Napier placed fourth in the javelin at 68-8.

On the boys side, the 4 X 100 team, believed to be a top entry, had to scratch because of sickness, but a pickup team in the 4 X 400 placed second to Pullman at 3:55. They included junior veterans Justin Berarducci and Jay Hart with Justin Aucutt, a sophomore, and Landon Willson, a freshman.

Berarducci won the 400 at 54.8, and Damon Buck placed second at 55.1. Hart won the 200 at 2:15.1.

Jackson Elfers, also a freshman, placed third in the 3200 at 12:19.2.

Kellen McNanny, a sophomore, placed third in the pole vault at 9-0.

Kevin Nellis, a senior making a first start, and Cody Wuestney placed fifth and sixth in the 1600.

Team scores for the girls were Pullman 135, Colfax 95, Clarkston 85, Troy 48 and Deary 8.

Scores for the boys teams were Pullman 175, Deary 55, Colfax 45, Troy 43 and Clarkston 36.

Colfax will compete at the Ray Cross invitational at Ephrata Saturday and then host a home meet at Schmuck Park on Tuesday.

Assistant coaches back are Jennifer Fulfs for distance events and Randy Daniel for jumping events. Todd Neu has joined the lineup as throwing coach. Coach Cooper reports he has three and maybe four volunteer coaches to help with the large turnout.

Right now Colfax has 28 girls and 36 boys on the roster.