JH Boys Track Wins Home Meet

I caught up with JH Track Coach Shane Barron, whose team is having a pretty good season. Just last Thursday, April 25, the Tigers got their first team win beating the likes of WB/ND and Danville.

“It is so difficult to win a track meet and New London, Danville and West Burlington are always separated by just a few points,” Barron said. “I am so proud that we could win our first meet of the year and do it at home."

He pointed out that these Tigers have been second three times in a row. He was proud of his team. He feels the kids saved their best performances of the year to pull this one out.

He pointed to some standout performances. They included seventh grader Kellan Porter who got his personal record in the High Jump at 5-4. Eighth grader Jaece Deterding equaled his personal best in the same event to take second, also at 5-4.

Barron pointed out, “That was an 18-point pop and was a key factor in winning the meet."

The shuttle hurdle relay team of Porter, Owen Severson, Gavin Strawhacker and Dylan Burden lowered their school record for the fourth consecutive time, winning in a time of 1:08.18.

He sees improvement every meet: “Even when we didn't win or even get points, we are starting to chop off seconds or add distance in the field events. We are in a tough time of the year now. We only have four practices and three meets left."

As the Tigers look to get back to that state championship form from two years ago, he has hopes the rebuilding has begun. "I am hoping that most of the eighth graders continue to work on track and field as they have a very nice future ahead of them. The seventh graders are starting to see their efforts paying off as well.”

Good luck Tigers and Coach Barron!