Middle school track closes big season

30 athletes toe the line
in 2011

The Crested Butte Middle School Track and Field team was a huge success this season, literally, with a team hovering around 30 athletes. Co-coaches Jordan Cooper and Chelsea Murray could not have been more proud.
The quick and short six-week-long season started with a bang in Olathe. The athletes brought home a record number of ribbons. The next meet, Cedaredge, was sleeted out, but the Titans were ready to rumble at the next meet in Gunnison. The weather in Gunnison could not have been better, as the Titans continued their success and excelled in many events.
The Gunnison meet was prime time to show off the Titan distance runners. A whopping six athletes, 8th grader Lauren Yehle, 7th graders Shawnee Landry, Kai Sherman, and Ashton Mary, as well as 6th graders Matthew Harper-Johnson and Isabel Young, toed the line for the 800-meter run and proved their grit.
The most thrilling race of the day proved to be the boys’ 800-meter run as 7th grader Shawnee Landry shattered the field of runners by an entire 100-meters while fellow 7th grade Titans Kai Sherman and Ashton Mabry battled one another for a close finish.
The following week the Titans traveled to the Montrose Middle School track meet. Yet again, many outstanding performances were given. The next meet for the middle school jumpers and tracksters was in Delta. Growth came during the season for all athletes as they each gained experience and confidence.
Arguably the toughest competition that the Titans found was in the San Luis Valley in the Center meet, yet the Titans competed with heart and courage. A tough race, the boys’ 4×400, was run by a mix of 7th and 8th graders, all of whom ran extremely well.
Other standout performances this spring season were given by 8th grader Joe Hayes, who continued to gain speed and strength, specifically in the 400-meter dash. Eighth grader Brittany Barefield slashed her personal bests in sprinting events and brought home several ribbons, while 8th grader Leila Nicholas took to the 800 meter run.
Seventh grade girls Elizabeth Stepanek, Ryan Carroll, Maddie Lambert, Jamie Spahn and Tara Mortell dominated the 400-meter dash. Seventh grade boy Ben Barrett ran sprints and competed in the long jump, while 6th grader Ally Bell sailed over the hurdles but her season was cut short by injury. Sixth grader Gage Meredith proved he could hang with 7th graders in both the 800- and the 1,600-meter runs.
The entire team was put to many tests, as the coaches encouraged the broad talents shown on the team. The rest of the hard-working, mighty Titan team was composed of Kaitlyn Seifert, Lindsay Johnson, Mallory Mikeska, Courtney Kopf, Mikalen Cox, Hailey Pike, Ariel Kilpatrick, Raven Bryson, Sienna Brooks, Ansley Potoker, Axel Deer, Alvaro Martel, Will Johnson, and Jordan Nichols.
Congratulations, Crested Butte Middle School Titans.