St. Joseph Middle School Head Track and Field Coach Zachary Steele couldn’t be prouder of his team.
“We had a great season and are very blessed and thankful to have such hardworking athletes that have dedicated themselves to our season,” he said.
The team had 14 athletes qualify for the Class AA State Finals in Peoria this weekend.
“We had a great group of eighth graders who were leaders and they will transition to Spartans,” Steele said. “Track and Field is a sport where you need strong physically; you have to either run fast, throw far, jump long or high, or vault high. However, in my 12 years as a coach, 10 as the head, I am in awe of how strong our athletes have to be mentally. It takes great discipline and repetitiveness every day to be a great track athlete.”
Individual Qualifiers included:
Payton Carter: 7th Grade Girls Pole Vault
Lia Patterson: 7th Grade Girls 200 M Dash
Macy Reed: 7th Grade Girls High Jump
Carson Maroon: 7th Grade Boys 800 M Run
Brock Trimble: 7th Grade Boys Discus
Relay Qualifiers included:
8th Grade Girls 4×400 Meter Relay: Shayne Immke, Peyton Jones, Olivia Terven, Lia Patterson, Savanna Franzen
7th Grade Boys 4×200 Meter Relay: Logan Smith, Brock Trimble, Drew Thurman, Braxton Vander Logt, James Barron
8th Grade Boys 4×400 Meter Relay: Spencer Wilson, Brock Trimble, Logan Smith, Drew Thurman, Braxton Vander Logt
The
Payton Carter finished second overall in
Lia Patterson finished 11th in the 200 meter dash with a time of 27.72.
Brock Trimble finished third in the seventh grade boys discus at 130 feet and one inch.
Before the team left for Peoria, we asked the state qualifiers five questions. Here are their answers.
Peyton Jones
What made you join track?
I enjoy running and track just seemed like the perfect sport for me because of the variety of running events.
What do you enjoy about track?
I enjoy being part of a team and spending time doing something so
How does it feel to go to state?
This is my first year making a run to state in the three years I’ve done it. I am nervous because the competition is gonna be nothing we have seen but I am also excited to compete against the best runners in the state.
What are you most looking forward to at State?
I am looking forward to just the experience and competing against some amazing runners.
What has track taught you?
Track has taught me the importance of not caring about yourself caring about your teammates more. If you see someone on your team is a race struggling it is important to pick them up and be there for them. It has taught me how to push through the toughest pain. Just being a part of a family has taught me how being there for someone when they need it is the most important thing.
James Barron
What made you join track?
I joined track because my older brother, Anthony, ran track.
What do you enjoy about track?
I enjoy getting to run with my friends.
How does it feel to go to state?
It feels really good going to state, the relay has worked really hard all season.
What are you most looking forward to at State?
I am looking forward to the relay placing well.
What has track taught you?
Track has taught me to never give up on myself and there’s always time to better myself.
Drew Thurman
What made you join track?
I like sports, a lot of my friends are in track and its good conditioning for the other sports I’m in.
What do you enjoy about track?
Running with my friends and competing with other schools at the meets.
How does it feel to go to state?
I made it to state as a 6th grader and my goal this year was to make it back. It feels good to have accomplished that goal.
What are you most looking forward to at State?
Competing against other good teams that will push us to run better times.
What has track taught you?
I run mostly relays so track has taught me about teamwork, leadership, and to always try your hardest.
Olivia Terven
What made you join track??
I wanted to join track to be more active and to be more involved in school activities. I wanted to become better and work harder at the things I am good at. I also like to run with my friends and have fun.
What do you enjoy about track?
I enjoy hurdling and running in relays. I also like running with my friends and having quality time while being active.
How does it feel to go to state?
Going to state makes me feel proud of myself and the things that I have accomplished. It also makes me feel that I worked hard to achieve my goal. I’m also very proud of my teammates who are going to state with me. We all worked very hard and didn’t give up.
What are you most looking forward to at State?
I am looking for a good competition, and also to see what me and the other girls can you do. I really want to see each of us push ourselves and prove to everyone what we can really do. I also want to just have fun with my team and do our best.
What has track taught you?
Track has taught me to work harder and to not rely on other people, but yourself. Its a very independent activity but you also have to work with others to acheive goals. I learned to just push myself to become better. My coaches and relay members have really helped me become more confident and proud of my work. I thank them because I dont think I would have made it to state without their support.
Carson Maroon
What made you join track?
I like to run.
What do you enjoy about
Invitational meets – when the top 2 of each event compete somewhere. It provides more competition.
How does it feel to go to state?
It feels great!
What are you most looking forward to at State?
Competing with the best athletes around.
What has track taught you?
It’s taught me how to work hard.
Brock Trimble
What made you join track?
My dad did track in high school and college so he wanted me to try it.
What do you enjoy about track?
Meeting kids from different schools and being competitive
How does it feel to go to state?
Good, because all my hard work is paying off
What are you most looking forward to at state?
Being able to compete against a high level of competition
What has track taught you?
Hard work pays off
Lia Patterson
What made you join track?
I joined track because my friends were doing it and I wanted to try something new this year.
What do you enjoy about track?
The competition and our awesome coaches.
How does it feel to go to state?
Awesome and fun!
What are you most looking forward to at State?
Our 4×400 relay.
What has track taught you?
It’s taught me to never give up. When you’re in a relay, your team is counting on you to give it all, no matter what. It’s also taught me to always finish strong!
Spencer Wilson
What made you join track?
I joined track because I like to run competitively.
What do you enjoy about track?
I like to run against other runners at the meets. I have also become friends with several runners in the area.
How does it feel to go to state?
I’m excited to compete against the fastest runners in the state.
What are you most looking forward to at State?
I’m excited to run our relay against the fastest competition.
What has track taught you?
I have learned to work with my teammates. I have also learned to never give up, even if you are ahead or behind in the race.
Savanna Franzen
What made you want to join track?
I decided to join track because I have done cross country for two years and have figured out that I love to run.
What do you enjoy about track?
I like the relays and working with a group of people at practice and working together. I also like the distance because of cross country.
How does it feel to go to State?
It makes me feel very happy to get to go to state as a sixth grader even though I am only an alternate.
What are you most looking forward to at State?
I am looking forward to seeing the competition and watching my teammates if I’m not running.
What has track taught you?
Track has taught me to do what I do best! (Coach Guido)
Braxton Vander Logt
What made you join track?
My mom was a track star at SJO and in college and it made me want to try track.
What do you enjoy about track?
Being on the team has been fun.
How does it feel to go to state?
I am excited.
What are you most looking forward to at State?
The experience.
What has track taught you?
Self discipline, how to pace myself, and how to be part of a team.
Logan Smith
What made you want to join track?
Stay in shape and try to make state.
What do you enjoy about track?
Going to the meets and competing against other athletes.
How does it feel to go to state?
Awesome, I can’t wait to experience it.
What are you most looking forward to at State?
The atmosphere and to be able to compete against the best relay teams in the state.
What has track taught you?
That track and field is a very competitive sport and you to have give it your all if you want to succeed.
Shayne Immke
What made you want to join track?
I joined track because my cousin Atleigh, who was in 8th grade at the time, encouraged me to go out and I had always thought I was fast.
What do you enjoy about track?
What I enjoy most about track is being able to see and hangout with my friends a lot.
How does it feel to go to state?
Going to state is very exciting because it was our goal all year and to finally know that we made it is a relieving and exciting accomplishment
What are you most looking forward to at State?
I’m looking forward to running on the nice track and seeing all my friends from other schools.
What has track taught you?
Track has taught me that it takes hard work to reach your goals and it has also taught me that I need to have discipline when practiing and don’t even give up because one little thing could determine whether you get first or not
Macy Reed
What made you join track?
My older friends said I should try track because I did cross country and that being on the team was a lot of fun.
What do you enjoy about track?
I enjoy being with my friends and doing different events that I have never done before.
How does it feel to go to state?
I am really excited and thankful that I get to experience a once in a life opportunity like this.
What are you most looking forward to at State?
I am looking forward to high jumping with the best girls in the state and having fun with my friends who also made it to state.
What has track taught you?
Track has taught me that hard work really pays off and people should be thankful that they get to be in an amazing sport like track.
Payton Carter
What made you join track?
I wanted to try pole vaulting.
What do you enjoy about track?
Not the running! I like pole vaulting.
How does it feel to go to state?
I feel privileged and accomplished.
What are you most looking forward to at State?
Trying to get a new PR. (And Kona Ice!)
What has track taught you?
How to be a part of a big team.
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