Winter sports in Tri-Valley have been on quite the roll this season with playoffs all around and many of the Scottie athletes making it to state level competitions. Indoor track is one of those sports having an amazing season, and now 12 of the students from the indoor track team are going on to compete on March 6th, in the State OATCCC District I indoor finale happening in Geneva, Ohio at the Spire Institute.
The team lead by coach Zach Durfee has been training hard at the Fieldhouse in Zanesville and competing in meets all around the state this season in hopes to make it to this final event. Their hard work has paid off and the team is really excited to see how they do in state-level competition.
The team will be competing in the 4 x 2 which is a four-runner relay where each runner completes 200 meters or half a lap on a standard track then hands off to another teammate until they have finished the race. They will also be in the 60-meter race, the long jump, the triple jump, the high jump, and the weight throw respectively.
Competing for the girls is senior Anne Miller who qualified for the 4 x 2, the girls 4 x 2 team is currently ranked 24th in division 1 with a time of 1:55. Scottie senior Olivia Combs who is ranked 7th in the triple jump at 33’9″ is going to be an alternate for the girls 4 x 2 as well as competing in the triple jump. Her teammate, sophomore Sophie Sands is ranked 21st in the long jump at 15’11” and is running the 4 x 2 as well as doing the long jump. Next on the roster for the girls is freshman Kate Martin who is ranked 23rd in the high jump at 4’6″ and will be competing in the 4 x 2 and the high jump. Senior Claire Martin will be making a repeat appearance at state and is ranked 23rd in D1 in the 60-meter with a time of 8.14, 5th in the triple jump at 34’11”, and 12th in the long jump at 16’11”. Martin who qualified for 1 event last year will be competing in 4 events this year, including the 60-meter, the 4 x 2, the long jump, and the triple jump.
” I have really enjoyed this season, and I am really excited that the relay team made it because I really enjoy the team aspect of the sport” stated senior Claire Martin.
Competing for the boys is sophomore Cade France who qualified for the 4 x 2, the boys 4 x 2 team is ranked 18th in division 1 with a time of 1:35. Also competing is senior Nico Repuyan who is ranked 14th in the long jump at 20’4″ and 17th in the triple jump at 35’1″ and will be in the 4 x 2, the long jump, and the triple jump. Senior Blake Sands is ranked 25th in the 60-meter with a time of 7.28 and will be competing in the 4 x 2 as well as the 60-meter. Xander Sims is a senior who is repeating his trip to state this year to compete in the weight throw where he is ranked 19th at 46’10”. Rounding out the boys team, is senior Jordan Pantaleo in his first year competing in indoor track, he is ranked 15th in the 60-meter with a time of 7.16, and 4th in the long jump at 21’11”. Jordan will be competing in the 4 x 2, the long jump, and the 60-meter at state.
“The thing I like about this sport is being around friends as well as practicing speed and agility and keeping in shape. I only wish I had started doing this sooner.” stated Pantaleo.
Coach Zach Durfee mentioned “These are all hard-working kids and they are all peaking now at the perfect time for state competition. “
