Mingus Union High School’s track and field team qualified seven individuals and four relay teams to the Arizona Interscholastic Association Division III State Championship, held on Friday and Saturday, May 5 and 6, at Mesa Community College.
The Marauders’ top finisher was sophomore Meg Babcock, who claimed second in the 800-meter run in 2:24.24.
Babcock was met by coaches, friends and family after the race, visibly elated before and after taking the podium.
“I’m just so thankful for the experience,” Babcock said. “I know it wouldn’t be possible without my coaches and family. I give the race to them … [Last year] I saw the podium and told my coach I wanted to be there. The whole season I was working to be on the podium.”
An athlete who just missed the podium was junior Hannah DeVore, who took fifth in the 100-meter hurdles in 16.74. DeVore did not qualify for the finals in the 300-meter hurdles, with one of her slowest times of the season.
Junior Katelyn Prouty finished ninth in the triple jump with a leap of 33-08.75. Senior Maria Meacham [32-11.5] was 12th.
The girls 4×400 meter relay team took 13th in 4:19.74 and the 4×100 meter team was 19th in 53.26 seconds.
For the boys, the 4×800 meter team finished ninth in 8:36.92, less than a 10th of a second off of Coconino High School. The 4×400 team took 16th in 3:35.25.
Individually, senior Ryan Alexander was 20th in the 800-meter run, finishing in 2:06.12.
Sophomore Kendrew Streck competed in the discus and shot put. In the discus, Streck was 12th with a throw of 122-03, more than seven feet shorter than his season best. In the shot put [45-00.5], he finished ninth.
Junior Jonathan Jung was to compete in the high jump, but did not record a height.
