Camp Verde track athletes post top eight finishes at state

Four Camp Verde athletes represented the Cowboys with top eight finishes in the 2013 Boys and Girls Track and Field Division III State Championships on Saturday, May 11, at Mesa Community College.

Senior Justin Reay placed fourth in the 400-meter dash with an unofficial time of 49.8 seconds and also placed fifth in the 800-meter run with an unofficial time of 1 minute, 58 seconds.

“Justin was disappointed with his 800,” CVHS Head Coach Lori Showers said. “He’s only ran the race three times ever, but during the regular season, he ran in small packs and was always able to take off in front. Here he got stuck in the middle and couldn’t get around. He still ran a good time.

“His 400 was good, but not his best. It was really difficult and we had questioned … should we let him run those two [races]. His times weren’t bad, but it was hard competition.”

Reay was ranked No. 1 in the 800 and No. 2 in the 400 going into the state meet and also qualified for the 100 and 200, but Reay and Showers decided that he would run only the 400 and 800, two events that are tough to run together.

For the full story, please see the Wednesday, May 15, issue of the Camp Verde Journal.