Article Contributed on: 5/7/2009 1:23:13 PM
Several members of he Pomona Panthers track and field team were ready to hit the track, leap the hurdles and power the shot put at the preliminary meet for varsity league championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood on May 6.
And several members were feeling confident that they would take home the league championship for the second time in a row.
Head coach
Jeff Donnel said that's not an easy thing to do.
"It's hard to repeat the win because everybody is gunning for you. Everyone knows if they beat you they have a chance," Donnel said
Donnel said it was an even tougher challenge this year because Ralston Valley was in their league. Ralston Valley, formerly in the 5A classification now competes in 4A.
But the boys' team pulled it off and won the league championship May 9 at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood.
According to Donnel Pomona won the meet by five points.
"Our girls lost by 17. To be that close should make the kids excited about the future," Donnel said.
Donnel said
Ian Harkreader, a two-miler, got third and it was quite an achievement for him.
"Ian really set the tone for the idea of achieving high even if you're not number one. He really put it out there," Donnel said.
Although Donnel had not yet spoken to the team after the May 9 league meet, he said he planned to tell everyone how proud he was of the team and the coaches.
"I want them to know how fortunate they are to be part of a championship team," Donnel said.
Donnel said he hoped the team would look at their progress and start planning now to be even better next year.
Boys team captain and senior
Derik Linch said, "One of this year's team highlights wa All American
Jon Gamble's 6 foot-8-inch high jump. "He won All American in the high jump," Linch said.
Gamble followed throughon May 9 and won the high jump and Linch met his goal of winning the 300 hurdles, a personal best.
Linch praised another standout student,Emily Hunsucker, who this year made it to the All American in discus. At the May 9 league meet, Hunsucker won both the shotput and the discus.
"That's an impressive feat in my opinion," said Donnell. She is the number one seed in shot put and the no. two seed in discus.
The coach said many students placed higher than they were seeded.
"None of our sprinters finished in the top four, but when they ran the final they stepped it up and ran faster. It wasn't enough to win, but it got us an extra point here and there," Donnel said.
He praised Adam Sinde, a distance runner. "He did what he was supposed to," Donnel said.
What the kids may not realize is that when they come in at sixth, seventh or eighth place it still helps us win the meet," Donnel said.
Drew Ebner, who runs relay in the 4 x 200 said what he likes so much about the sport is knowing that you're racing against everyone.
"Some parts are just you . It's an adrenaline rush," Ebner said.
up next
Jeffco will host the 3A, 4A, and 5A track and field state championships. Preliminaries are May 14, 15 and the finals are May 16. To see schedules, visit http://www.chsaa.org/sports/track/track.asp
Jeffco Stadium is located at Sixth Avenue and Kipling Street.Normal0falsefalsefalseMicrosoftInternetExplorer4
Gates open May 14 at 7:30 a.m.; May 15 at 9 a.m.; May 16, 9 a.m.
Ticket prices: Adults, $8; K-12 and seniors 60 and older, $6.
Track Banquet is May 19 at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria. There is no charge and dessert will be served at the school. To read more and see more photos, enter 61295 in YourHub.com's Content Finder.