The MHS track and field team did not disappoint as they competed in their various events at the IHSAA 2A State Track and Field Championship track meet on May 19-20.  For many athletes, simply qualifying to participate in the state meet is a great accomplishment.  But for Malad’s athletes, they were there not only to compete, but come out on top.

The state track meet has been on the radar for many of Malad’s athletes, most of them long before the season even started.  From eating right to logging the miles to lifting weights to perfecting their form, these athletes have been hyper focused on performing at their very best.  Not only have they been working to have strong bodies, but they have been focusing on having strong minds as well.  Coach Tylee Skinner has taught the team, “The body achieves what the mind believes,” and it was that sort of mentality that carried the team through the highly competitive and demanding state track meet.

In a sport where your performance depends solely on your own capabilities, so many factors can influence the outcome.  Things like the schedule of the events, lane assignments and the extremely warm weather played a part in challenging the athletes as they performed over the two day event.  Competing at the very top level against Idaho’s elite track stars, was an exciting yet sobering thought for the MHS team.  But as they realized that this was the very meet they had been training for, that they were mentally strong and more than physically able, they were able to put off those feelings of doubt and come out to compete with confidence.  

Brynlee Bastian, running in three races at the state meet said, “I knew my body was physically ready, I just needed my mind to agree with that during my races so I could dig deep and do my best.”  Bastian and her teammates certainly did find it within them to dig deep.

The Malad Women's team had eight medaling finishes over the two day event as well as four new personal records and a new school record.  Junior Oaklie Hebdon dominated the field asshe  competed in the 300 meter, 400 meter run, triple jump and ran the anchor leg of the 4X400 meter relay.  Coming into the state meet, Hebdon had big goals in mind.  To begin with, Hebdon was hoping to place at least as well as she was ranked.  Beyond that, she was working towards new personal records and even breaking the school record in multiple events, including the record for the 400 meter race that has been standing for 33 years.

For the second year in a row, Hebdon finished first in the 300 meter hurdles, arguably one of the most brutal races of their entire meet.  Hurdles not only are running nearly a full lap flat out, but then must also clear the eight 30” hurdles along the way.  After the race, Hebdon admitted that it wasn’t her best race, saying, “I didn’t have the best form going over the hurdles as what I usually do so I was a little bummed about that because it slowed my time down. I could feel [the second place runner] right behind me as I was running, which surprised me and made me go even faster because I was worried that she might catch me.”  Her best performance or not, it was enough to win the race as she came in with a time of 45.74, her second fastest time of the season behind her personal record of 45.16.  

Hebdon won second place in the triple jump with a personal best distance 34’ 6” as well as second place in the 400 meter race with a time of 59.12, another personal record.  While Hebdon wasn’t able to meet all of her goals coming into state, she is already looking to next season and with high hopes for even greater improvements.  That 400 meter record is set clearly in her sights and she is determined to come in ahead of it.

Competing in several events for Malad, Brynlee Bastian had a successful meet, making it to the medal stand in both the 400 and 800 meter race with new season records.  Bastian recalled what an aggressive race the 800 meter run was.  From the very beginning of the race, the competitors were pushing to get into the best position to run their race.  The race was tough and Bastian found herself getting boxed in and had to maneuver around other racers to finally have a clear path to the finish line.  Just as she was starting to kick at the final 200 meters of the the race, the runner in first place tripped and fell.  Bastian found her way around the down racer and still managed to come in fourth place with a time of 2:24.97. In the 400 meters, Bastian had a third place finish with a time of 1:00.60 

Senior Cortlyn Coleman finished her high school track career setting personal records in both her events, the 1600 meter race and the 3200 meter race.  In the extremely competitive races, Coleman not only PR-ed in the events but took sixth place in both races, accomplishing exactly what she had set out to do at the state meet.  In the 1600 meter race, Coleman ran with a time of 5:36.21 and a time of 12:04.25 in the 3200 meter race.  In addition to Cortlyn Coleman competing for Malad in the 1600 meter race, her sister, Cally Coleman also ran.  Coming in seventh place, Cally had a time of 5:39.03, a new season best.

The MHS Women’s team also qualified for the 4X400 meter relay at the state meet with Bastian, Joni Beck, Brooke Isaacson and Hebdon running the race.  The runners came to state with one goal in mind- setting a new school record.  With each of the racers running at their peak, the team came in with a time of 4:12.68 to finish in fourth place and, even more exciting, setting a new MHS record.

With such impressive results over the two day meet, the MHS women’s team, composed of only six athletes, pulled ahead to take fourth place overall as a team.  With such few participants, this was indeed an incredible achievement.  Coach Beth Bastian said, “For six girls to bring home a fourth place trophy is amazing, and they were only two points from getting a third place trophy!”

Malad’s men’s team had only three participants compete, but despite being few in numbers, they were able to compete in six different events at the state meet, coming home with four medaling finishes, including Braylin Tripp’s first place finish in the triple jump with a distance of 43’ 6”.  Tripp has dominated the triple jump this season, taking first place at every meet but one, including the District meet where he set a new personal record.  With such a season, Tripp was looking for nothing but a first place finish.  Coming into the meet, Tripp felt the pressure and nerves of such a feat, but also felt excited to jump against such great competition.  After his first few jumps at the meet, Tripp was placing in second place, not the finish he was hoping for.  Pushing himself, Tripp finally got the jump he was looking for that took him to the top.  Sitting in first place, Tripp could finally relax and settle into his jumping game.

Tripp also competed in the high jump, placing in fourth with a height of 6’, and in the long jump, taking fifth place with a distance of 21’ 1”.  Austin Jacobson also competed for Malad in the triple jump, placing ninth with a distance of 40’.

Brycen Talbot qualified to run in several races at the state meet, including the 800 meter race, the 1600 meter race, and the 3200 meter race.  Talbot set a new personal best as he ran the 800 meter race in a time of 2:02.27, earning him a sixth place finish.  In the 1600 meter race, Talbot finished twelfth, with a time of 4:50.89.  Talbot also set a new PR in the 3200 meter race, finishing just out of medal range in seventh place with a time of 10:21.58.

Each of these athletes has exhibited incredible athleticism, dedication, and perseverance that has carried them to the culminating event of the season, proving that they truly are the best of the best.  Coach Bastian shared, “I am just still so proud of our kids and how they competed!  It was fun to see their progress.  On the way home, they were already  talking about what they’re gonna do differently next year so they make it to state in more events and how they’re going to work, even harder to achieve even more next year!”  

With the season winding down, Cally Coleman said it perfectly, saying, “During this track season there have been some challenging days and fun days. But through it all I have learned, “If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.””