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MCHS track coaches looking to build team’s strength

Joshua Gordon
Zach Beauchamp, a Moffat County High School sophomore, practices throwing the shot put March 15 outside of MCHS. The MCHS boys varsity track team earned a share of the Western Slope League title last season and coach Lance Scranton said the team will have the same lofty goals this year.
Joshua Gordon

BULLDOGS AT A GLANCE:

Coaches: Lance Scranton and Todd Trapp

Returning state qualifiers: 5 (Alfredo Lebron, Johnny Landa, Miguel Molina, Lauren Roberts and Maddy Jourgensen)

Athletes to watch:

• Junior Alfredo Lebron took seventh place at the 4A state meet last year in the 3,200 meters.

• Senior Lauren Roberts, Trapp said, will be counted on in all three jumps — long, high and triple.

• Senior Maddy Jourgensen was just off the MCHS record for the 3,200 meters in her fourth-place finish at last year’s state meet.

SCHEDULE:

Moffat County High School varsity track and field team’s remaining schedule:

Date Place Event/Host March 26 Away Mickey Dunn Invitational

April 2 Away Central High School

April 14 Away Tiger Invit. (Lakewood)

April 15 Away Coal Ridge High School

April 22 Away Fuita Monument H. S.

April 29 Home Clint Wells Invitational

May 6 Away Tiger Invit. (Junction)

May 7 Away Tiger Invit. (Junction)

May 13 Away Regionals @ Mesa State

May 14 Away Regionals @ Mesa State

May 19 Away State Meet

May 20 Away State Meet

May 21 Away State Meet

BULLDOGS AT A GLANCE:

Coaches: Lance Scranton and Todd Trapp

Returning state qualifiers: 5 (Alfredo Lebron, Johnny Landa, Miguel Molina, Lauren Roberts and Maddy Jourgensen)

Athletes to watch:



• Junior Alfredo Lebron took seventh place at the 4A state meet last year in the 3,200 meters.

• Senior Lauren Roberts, Trapp said, will be counted on in all three jumps — long, high and triple.



• Senior Maddy Jourgensen was just off the MCHS record for the 3,200 meters in her fourth-place finish at last year’s state meet.

SCHEDULE:

Moffat County High School varsity track and field team’s remaining schedule:

Date Place Event/Host March 26 Away Mickey Dunn Invitational

April 2 Away Central High School

April 14 Away Tiger Invit. (Lakewood)

April 15 Away Coal Ridge High School

April 22 Away Fuita Monument H. S.

April 29 Home Clint Wells Invitational

May 6 Away Tiger Invit. (Junction)

May 7 Away Tiger Invit. (Junction)

May 13 Away Regionals @ Mesa State

May 14 Away Regionals @ Mesa State

May 19 Away State Meet

May 20 Away State Meet

May 21 Away State Meet

For Todd Trapp, the Moffat County High School girls varsity track team head coach, success for this year’s team has to start with his seniors.

Britteny Ivers, Maddy Jourgensen and Lauren Roberts have been on the track team all four years, Trapp said.

In their final year, Trapp said he expects big things.

“The three seniors have been very athletic their entire high school career,” he said. “They will definitely be the leaders of the team this year.”

Jourgensen and Roberts qualified for the 4A state meet last season. Jourgensen ran the 800 meters, 1,600 meters and the 3,200 meters and Roberts competed in the long jump.

Trapp said he wouldn’t be surprised if Ivers joined them this year at the state meet May 19, 20 and 21.

“I have seen progress in the last couple of seasons with Britteny in her jumping events,” he said. “She has made a huge gain in her triple jump.”

Trapp said Roberts and Ivers are great sprinters for the team as well.

Along with the three seniors, 10 other athletes from last season are returning.

With a solid core this year, Trapp said many individuals would be able to contribute to the team.

“We have a lot of different kids who all work hard and all put forth a great effort,” he said. “I hope to get big things from everyone.”

While being the head coach of the girls team, Trapp mainly focuses on both the boys and girls distance runners in practice.

To get his runners ready for meets, Trapp said he starts from the bottom.

“Some kids had the winter off or played other sports, so I really have to work on getting their strength back,” he said. “We work on aerobic fitness and build the speed as the season goes on.”

Trapp said he has the athletes start at a 20- to 25-minute run and build on that as the season progresses.

“We have to get the kids ready to compete and run,” he said. “Whether it is distance or sprints, we start at the bottom and over the course of the season they get faster.”

Lance Scranton, coach of the MCHS boys varsity track team, said some of his strongest runners are the guys who practice with Trapp.

Juniors Alfredo Lebron, Johnny Landa and Miguel Molina all qualified for the state meet last year.

Lebron placed seventh in the 3,200-meters and Landa finished 14th in the same event.

“Alfredo, combined with Miguel and Johnny, should make a solid core,” Scranton said. “We also have senior Tyler Brost, who is a sprinter for the team.”

Scranton mainly works with the throwers during practice, and said senior Gage Spears and junior Garrett Spears will help lead that squad.

In the first couple of meets, Scranton said working on technique was just as important as the final results.

“The early meets are where the kids can work on their technique and set the mark for the season,” he said. “The athletes set a lot of personal goals and they can work toward them early on.”

The boys team won a share of the Western Slope League title last season after tying Glenwood Springs High School in the League Championships.

Scranton said he told his team when the season started they were aiming for the same goal this year.

“I told the guys we did something last year that had not been done in many years when we were co-champions of the Western Slope League,” he said. “We have the same goal this year and we have the talent to do it.

“Our league will have strong competition, but we are a really good team.”

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