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Track schedule ramps up with end of month
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MUSCODA - The Riverdale track team traveled to Kickapoo on Monday, April 18 to compete in the annual 11-team Lee Griffin Invitation.

The Chieftains were looking to improve on their times and distances from previous meets. It was a perfect night for running and the results showed that.

The girls were lead by their 4x400-meter team of Callie Arellano, Macy Mau, McKenzie Couey and Hannah Hanson. They finished second in the race. The same four young ladies ran the 4x200-meter relay and won it, but later found out they were disqualified for an exchange zone violation.

“The violation did not give the girls any advantage,” explained Assistant Coach Watters. “The exchange between Mau and Hanson just happened outside the zone. That is why they were disqualified.”

Also scoring points for the Chieftain girls were Morgan Paul Krause, seventh in the triple jump; and Hannah Hanson, third in triple jump.

“We are starting to hit our marks and jumping much better at meets,” stated Head Coach Todd McKay.

Also jumping well at Kickapoo were Callie Arellano and Macy Mau, finishing seventh and eighth respectively, in the long jump. Mau continued her great meet at the disc circle where she finished just ahead of teammate Gabby Werthwein by 13 inches. The two girls finished fourth and fifth respectively.

“Macy and Gabby push each other to improve each day, whether it is practice or a meet. It is great to have two teammates that know how to push the other,” said Coach McKay. “Our girls are working hard every day, we are not going to win any meets with only 13 girls out. But we are going to be finishing in the top eight in a lot of events we are in.”

On the boys’ side, the Chieftains were lead again by Brian Mathews with two second-place finishes in the 1600-meter and 3200-meter runs.

“Brian continues to work hard day in and day out,” said Assistant Coach Schneider. “His goal is to return the State Track Meet again this year.”

Mathews was also in the 4x800-meter relay team that finished fourth. Running with Mathews were Hank Huang, Max Krueger and Dakota Fiebranz.

The Chieftains continued their scoring with two more relays the 4x200 and 4x400, of Fiebranz, Colt Pechan, Micah Arellano, and Athan Karabetsos, finishing third and fourth respectively.

Pechan finish fourth in the triple jump and Kyle Hanke finish eighth in the 400-meter sprint.

“This was Kyle’s best race, so far this season,” stated Coach McKay.

Rounding out the scoring was Jason Wharton, finishing eighth in the 200-meter sprint.

“Overall I was very happy with our performance,” said Coach McKay. “We had some athletes running events for the first time ever, and they did really well. I am excited to see the effort our athletes are putting forward in practice and at meets. Good things are going to happen to them in May, if you keep working hard.”

At Reedsburg

The track team traveled to Reedsburg last Thursday for an eight-team invitational. The Chieftains were looking continue their improvement.

Brian Mathews had a great night, collecting two first-place finishes in the 1600-meter and 3200-meter runs.

“Brian ran both races really well. He was in control from the start to the end. He ran very confidently,” stated Assistant Coach Schneider.

Also having a good night for the Chieftains was Micah Arellano. Arellano scored in four events He finished fourth in both the pole vault and triple jump, eighth in the 300-meter hurdles, and was part part of the 4x200 team that finished third. Also in that relay were Colt Pechan, Dakota Fiebranz and Athan Karabetsos.

Colt also finished sixth in the triple jump and eighth in the 400-meter dash.

Athan Karabetsos finished eighth in the 200-meter sprint.

The boys had some personal best performances, but they were not good enough to finish in the top eight.

“I love seeing the great improvement from these young athletes. They are starting to see their hard work pay off,” said Coach McKay.

On the girls’ side, Gabby Werthwein competed last, but had the best success on the day. She had a personal best disc throw of 98’3” to finish third overall. It was a seven-foot improvement over her previous best throw.

“I really think Gabby fed off all her teammates cheering her on,” explained coach McKay. “Since we were done running all her teammates were there to watch her in the finals. There is something about that Reedsburg track, we perform extremely well.”

Also placing for the team was Hannah Hanson who took fourth in triple jump. Callie Arellano placed in three events - fourth in the Long Jump, sixth in the 200-meter and was part of the 4x200 team that placed fourth. Also on that team placing fourth was Hanson, Macy Mau and McKenzie Couey.

Couey placed fifth in the 3200-meter run and Mau placed eighth in the 200-meter. And Reyna Escobedo placed eighth in the 800-meter run.

A newly formed 4x100-meter of Riley Conner, Morgan Paul-Krause, Alexus Ambort and Escobedo placed sixth overall.

The Chieftain track team is busy this week, with four meets in five days. A new meet this year is the La Crescent, MN meet. The Chieftains will be looking to leave their mark in Minnesota Friday afternoon.

The Chieftains have two home meets the first week in May, hosting Darlington and Southwestern on May 3 in a tri-meet followed by the Ginger Morey Invitational on Saturday, May 7. Both events begin at 10 a.m.