Alberton sends twelve to divisionals

Coach Rachel Clevenger's track team has had about half their meets cancelled this season, but that didn't pose any setbacks for the team. Clevenger said she had twelve individuals qualify for divisionals this last weekend at districts, which is over half the team.

"It went really well," Clevenger said. "It was a good weekend for us."

The Alberton girls finished districts with an overall total of 72 points, good enough for fourth place out of six teams. Danielle Hanley took third in the 100 meter dash with a time of 13.92. In the 200, the short distance runner ran with a time of 28.60 for a second place finish. Hanley also qualified to go to divisionals in the long jump, javelin and as a runner on the 4x100 meter relay team.

Teammate Jenna Rausch finished fifth in the 200 with a time of 29.01. Rausch also competed in the 800 meter race and nabbed second place with a time of 2:43.08. Rausch will also be running in the 400 at divisionals and will run a leg with Hanley on the 4x100.

Andi Clark ran third in the 300 meter hurdles and also qualified for divisionals in the 110 hurdles. She also is running a leg on the 4x100 team and qualified in the high jump. In the discus event, Christie Rimmer took fourth with a throw of 80-1. She will fill the fourth leg of the girls' 4x100 team.

The Alberton boys also brought home a fourth place finish from districts with an overall total of 58 points, ahead of two teams. Jake Thompson took second in the triple jump with a distance of 37-6. Teammate Matt Foley came in fifth, jumping a distance of 35-10.

Out on the track, Drew Clark netted fourth place in the 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles with a time of 50.18 and teammate Roy Schutter was sixth with a time of 55.38. In the 200 meter dash, Josh Webb ran 24.92 seconds, which was good enough for a fourth place finish.

The boys' 1,600 meter relay team came in second with a time of 3:49.37. The team consisted of Brandon Lehl, Foley, and Thompson and Chat Gass. Gass also will compete in the long jump and triple jump. Cody Robertson also qualified for divisionals in the high jump. Lehl will also throw in the javelin event and try his best at the high jump.

Clevenger said that she feels most of those going to divisionals have a chance to go to state if they state focused. She said that the end result will depend on many factors, but the most important is that they stay focused.

"It will depend on a lot of things from the weather, how the other kids do and if they stay focused," Clevenger said. "Lots of them have a chance and it will be real important to stay focused. They have to be real serious about going."

Clevenger said that in practice this week they won't be doing anything too strenuous and will focus on the events that they have qualified in. They'll be working on little things including block starts.

"A lot of them are on the edge, competing for those fifth, sixth and seventh spot," Clevenger said.