The IHSAA State Track and Field Meet held in Middleton, Idaho could not have been in more perfect competing conditions for the MHS team, a stark contrast from their district meet over a week ago.  Instead of snow and wind, there was sunshine and just enough warmth.  But it wasn’t just the sun that was beaming over the three day meet, but also the 15 Malad athletes that not only qualified, but were fierce contenders.

Nearly every MHS participant contributed points to their final team score with more than half making their way to the medal stand.  After months of hard work, these athletes finished out their season giving their greatest efforts to see even greater returns.  They went to the state track meet with goals, many of them being surpassed.

Senior Braylen Tripp repeated his impressive first place win in the triple jump, ending his high school jumping career with a new personal record of 45’ 3.5”.  Tripp took second place in the long jump with his jump 21’ 3.34”.  Tripp rounded out his state meet experience with a third place finish in the high jump, jumping 6’ 4”, tying the second place finisher in height but not in 
attempts.

Running for Malad in three events was Brycen Talbot.  Finishing in 6th place, Talbot  medaled with 6th place in the 800m with a time of 2:03.00.  Talbot took 12th place in the 1600m with a time of 4:44.90 and 8th in the 3200m with a new personal record 10:21.33.

Also competing for the Dragons in the 1600m was Boston Burbidge, coming in 10th place with a new personal best of 4:41.92.  Levi Angell competed in 3200m, also setting a new personal time of 10:52.41.

Freshman Braun Nalder rounded up the MHS men’s team, competing in the triple jump and pole vault, surprising his coaches and supporters with an impressive finish in both his events.  Nalder medaled with 6th place in the triple jump with a new best at 41’ 2.25”.  Completing his jumps in the dark Friday night, Nalder tied for third place with a new personal record of 12’6”

The Lady Dragon track team had eight qualifying athletes in a series of events, each of them contributing points to their team total.  In an incredible finish, the MHS women’s team took third place with a total of 72 points tallied up across their 15 finishes, coming in only 0.5 behind Firth in second place.

Senior Oaklie Hebdon had a series of PRs between her preliminary and final races and jumps in all of her events.  Competing in the 100m, Hebdon placed third with a time of 12.84  and earned a second place finish in the 400m with a 58.10.   Hebdon claimed the first place titles in the 300m hurdles once again, breaking her own record of 44.05.  The superathlete also took first place in the triple jump with another personal best of 37’ 4.5”.

Co-captain to Hebdon was Brynlee Bastian, also competing in a series of running events for the MHS women’s team.  Senior Bastian set new personal records in both her events as she placed third in the 400m with a 59.49 and 2:20.90 in 800 m.

Freshman Halie Palmer made her debut at the state meet with a 6th place finish in the 200m with a time of 27.08.  In similar fashion, freshman Kaycee Veneable stood out for Malad in the 100m hurdles as she took 5th place with a 16.80 as well as 5th place in the 300m with a personal best of 48.03.  Cally Coleman gutted out a strong 7th place finish in the 3200m with a time of 12:32.32.

Mikell Keetch set a new personal best in triple jump to place 8th, going 32’ 0.50”.  Izzy Haycock competed in the long jump with a final jump of 13’ 5”.

The Lady Dragons qualified with three of their relay team for the state track meet.  The 4x200 relay, consisting of Brynlee Bastian, Mikell Keetch, Halie Palmer and Kaycee Venable took 8th place with a time of 1:54.47.  The 4x400 relay run by Joni Beck, Mikell Keetch, Kaycee Venable, and Halie Palmer finished in fourth with 4:15.31, nearly ten seconds faster than their previous best time.  Izzy Haycock, Mikell Keetch, Halie Palmer, and Brynlee Bastian competed together in the medley race running a 100-100-200-400 in 1:55.40 to place third.

While there may have moments of disappointment or frustration, the MHS track and field athletes displayed just what Dragon Pride is.  Focusing to give their very best efforts, on and off the field, they accomplished incredible things.  “We couldn’t be more proud of these kids,” shared the track and field coaches.  “They worked hard for each other and themselves.  They supported each other and came together as a team more than they ever have before.  They didn’t learn just how to run fast and jump far or how to warm up and cool down, but they have learned life lessons that will carry them for years to come.”