Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
The Banner County Wildcats track team, which competes in the MAC meet this Saturday at Bayard, is small but mighty.
Lone senior Makyla Mason runs the distance events (1600 and 3200 M run). She medaled at the Chappell Tri-State Invite.
Coach Kari Gifford said the weather this season had been an issue for practices as well as school events, creating conflicts for the track team.
"We are already heading into the end of our season, and it doesn't feel like we've even hardly got started," Gifford said earlier this month.
Sophomores Amanda Montelongo and Janie Fonseca-Warm add to the team. Amanda throws the discus and runs the 100 M and 200 M sprints; this is her first year. Gifford said she threw her personal best at Chappell and is continuing to show improvement. Janie does shot put and discus. Both sophomores are seeing continued improvement in their performance.
Rounding out the team are freshmen Riley Jones, Karleigh Leslie, and the lone boy competitor, Kristian Clure.
According to Gifford, Riley competes in the high jump and both hurdle events; she medaled in the high jump at Chappell with a jump of 4-8.
Karleigh Leslie competes in the discus and the 100 M and 200 M sprints. She threw a personal best at the Tri-State meet, and Gifford said, "We are looking to see her continue to improve in that event."
Kristian Clure competes in sprint events and high jumps.
"He is continuing to show improvement," Gifford said.