Chelan sends 10 Goats to State Track in Cheney

CHELAN - It was a big day for the Chelan track team at the District/ State Qualifier Track meet at Cashmere on Thursday, May 18.

Over the course of a few hours, 10 Goats were qualified for the opportunity to compete in Cheney this week at the 1A/1B State Track meet.

“It is a great feeling having a good number of kids going for sure,” head coach Erik Romero said after the meet last Thursday. “I love how excited the kids were when they found out they had either won their event or met the qualifying standard time.”

Similar to swimming, each athlete qualifies for State by either winning their respective event at the District meet, or by surpassing a standard time/distance that is set by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA).

That athletes who qualified with their respective events include:

• Allie Barnes, 800 meter

• Dillon Dawson, 800 meter, 1600 meter, 4x400 Relay

• Ava Dickes, 200 meter, 400 meter

• Caleb Dodge, 4x100 Relay, 4x400 Alternate

• Sterling Gordon-Fournier, Javelin, 4x100 Alternate

• Sam Hawley, 4x100 Relay, 4x400 Relay

• Bert Mendivil, 4x100 Alternate

• Dillon Novich, 4x100 Relay, 4x400 Relay

• Mereck Palazzo, 1600 meter, 3200 meter, 4x400 Alternate

• Donny Watson, 4x100 Relay, 4x400 Relay

“I feel that each athlete of team relay has a good chance to advance to the finals for each event,” coach Romero stated. “With only two girls going, I feel they will be motivated to represent our girls team, but also make it to the finals in their respective events. Our boys team should score some good points this year, similar to last year.”

Coach Romero is ecstatic for his athletes that qualified, but remains proud of how his kids performed and improved throughout the year.

“Each student athlete earned the right to represent our team, our community and themselves this year,” coach Romero concluded. “We faced a lot of adversity this year and I can’t wait to see how they each will perform this week. I don’t know what the result will be, but I am proud of our whole team and how well the athletes competed last Thursday night.”

The 1A/1B State Track meet is scheduled to run from Thursday, May 25 through Saturday, May 27 in Cheney, Washington.

Zach Johnson can be reached at lcmeditor@gmail.com or (509) 682-2213