By Kaylor Nordhus, Flyer staff writer
You can be sure the track and field team will bring its A game to today’s meet.
Valley Center is the third varsity meet of the season, and the Bishop Carroll track and field team is bringing their top four individuals in each event, in addition to the top four fastest athletes running in the respective relays: the 4×100 meter, the 4×400 meter and the 4×800 meter.
For the boys’ 4×800 meter relay team, Valley Center is another shot at proving their overall time, and a chance for some new athletes on the relay to step up. Last week, at Pre-state, the four boys that ran it were Caleb Benifel, Logan Albers, Jacob Hesse and Paul Becker. At Valley Center however, there will be a change-up in who’s running in the relay.
“The only one who’s staying on the relay that ran at Pre-state is Jacob Hesse,” Coach Cory Swords said. The other three athletes are running in open events, or, in Paul Becker’s case, at KU relays. “The goal for the new group (Friday) is to run a sub 8:30 time,” said Swords.
The athletes running in it are Seth Arnold, Jason Irwin, Jacob Hesse and Brett Martin.
Another name to look out for at Valley Center is on the Carroll jumping squad. Kyle Demel, a junior, placed first in high-jump, fifth in long jump, and fourth in triple jump at Pre-state last week. He is expected to compete well this Friday at Valley Center with the jumps he cranked out at Pre-state.
“I hope to make a PR in at least one of my jumping events,” said Demel, “probably long jump.”
Demel is also a part of the 4×100 meter relay as the second leg. His other teammates running the 4×100 include Joseph Holthusen, Will Honas and Josh Hornback.
From the girls side of things, the 4×100 meter relay is expected to compete well at Valley Center. The relay is composed of juniors Kylee Mernagh, Daesha Howard, Kaylor Nordhus and freshman Heidi Asmussen.
“We ran a low 52 (seconds) last week at pre-state and hope to further decrease our time at Valley Center. We changed the order up a bit so hopefully moving things around will give us an opportunity to decrease our time,” said Mernagh.
“We are looking to break the school record by the end of the season, that being a low 50 seconds,” said Coach Chris Jaax.