Track shows massive improvement

Micheal Simmons, Sports Editor

Run fast, jump far and throw even farther has been the theme of the week for the Manhattan High track team as they dominated the boys side, placing first and girls took second.

“I think that first with boys and second with girls fits in well with where we are,” head coach Kory Cool said. “We’ve got a little more depth on the boys side right now. We –like most teams– still aren’t fully loaded, some athletes had other obligations this week and didn’t compete. I’m proud of the athletes that did compete and felt like they again handled poor weather well.”

Six girls and eight boys placed first in their events. The boys beat the nearest competition, Junction City, by 42 points, and the girls side fell to the same opponent, who are defending state champions for girls track by 55 points. A few athletes not only placed first, but set new personal records, including senior Cooper Schroeder.

“I felt tired when I crossed the line,” Schroeder said. “I felt like I finished strong and was happy with my time when I heard it. It takes both physical and mental preparation to get a new personal record. I’ve got to train hard and smart each day and prepare mentally for the race and how I want to run it.”

Schroeder was not the only one to set a new personal record.

“When I was approaching the board to jump, I wasn’t very confident because I’ve been struggling with a nagging injury,” junior Jaylynn Liggons said. “After I jumped though and heard some teammates and other competitors from different teams kind of ‘ooo’ it made me feel great.”

Liggons placed first with a jump of 21-06. With athletes setting new records and consistently placing first, it shows some mystery of what the full potential of the team really is.

“Our whole team is full of hard workers,” Liggons said. “I see them coming to practice every day to get better and giving out their best effort. We’re title-chasing, without a doubt we have a great shot at it and nothing at all is standing in our way. The sky’s the limit.”