The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“It’s still a little touch and go on who is running what”
by Than Acuff
It’s a little bit of a broken record but it continues to play on and on for the Crested Butte Titans track team. Coach Ben Davis had guarded hopes that he would take a full squad to the Cedaredge Invitational on Saturday, April 2, and while some things were looking better for the team, others got worse.
“We’re mostly a full and healthy squad but still not quite our full squad,” says Davis.
The coaching staff continues to tweak with their line-ups for events and the team was handed a blow when it was determined that standout sprinter Malia Olson would be missing at least a month of the season due to an injury. As a result, the coaches have been mixing some of the younger runners into events to fill her shoes, all the while getting the rest of the team into form.
“I’ve had to call on some freshmen and it gives them some needed experience, but Malia is not someone you can replace,” says Davis. “As a team we’ve got our base together, at this point it’s just a matter of perfecting it and getting everyone where they fit best. It’s still a little touch and go on who is running what.”
Eighteen Titan athletes made the trip to Cedaredge to face several familiar foes as well as big-time 2A programs Paonia and Coal Ridge, both of which just recently dropped down to 2A from the larger 3A division.
“Competing against them is a challenge but it’s good for us to have that experience,” says Davis.
As a result, while results scoring points for the team were few and far between, a handful of Titans continue to gain ground, tying or setting personal records (PR) over the weekend.
Sydney Peterson led the girls team again, placing second in both the 1,600 and 800-meter runs. Not only does she appear to match up well against runners from bigger programs, she is also making strides on a personal level.
“She had a great day, tying her PRs in both events,” says Davis.
Another standout performance came from Emilie Elkins, making her high school track debut as a freshman this season. Elkins beat her PR in the high jump by five inches, ending up in seventh place overall.
“As a freshman that’s something good to see,” says Davis. “We’ll take a couple of points for the team where we can get them.”
The boys side of things continues to be a mix of youthful experience and older raw talent.
The team got a shot in the arm this week from the addition of distance standout Aiden Truettner, and while Cedaredge was his first meet and thus somewhat underwhelming, placing ninth in the 3,200-meter run, it should be just a matter of time before he returns to the front of the pack.
“He’ll get better,” says Davis. “He’s someone who kicks into gear pretty quickly.”
The boys 4×100-meter relay team is rife with talent but lacking in experience as three of the four relay team members are new to track. Nevertheless, they continue to chip away at putting their inherent speed together with technique.
“They’re doing pretty well but their exchanges are still pretty slow,” says Davis.
All of Davis’ 100-meter boys runners set PRs in Cedaredge. Josh Merck placed eighth in his debut in the triple jump.
“As far as personal success, things went well,” says Davis.
The team now heads into the last week of workouts before the April break and while Davis is disappointed that only five Titans will make it to the meet in Grand Junction over the break, there is a silver lining.
“I think the break comes at a good time for illness and injury,” says Davis. “It’ll be a good time for some recovery. Right now I’m just looking for a healthy squad.”
