After winning the Section 5AA Track and Field Meet, the Becker Bulldog girls track and field team qualified 10 athletes for last week’s MSHSL State Meet held last week in STMA.

“We had some new school records, and incredible races and field event efforts,” Coach Trish Reimer-Kealy said.

The meet started with the preliminary rounds last Wednesday and senior Kailey Thompson qualified for the finals in the 100 meter hurdles with another new school record of 14.99.  

“School records are always exciting, but breaking the 15 second mark is extra sweet,” Reimer-Kealy said. “Plus, given the fact that Kailey is dealing with a nagging injury since our Conference championship meet makes it even more impressive.”

Later in the week, Thompson earned a seventh place medal and a spot on the podium with her time of 15.20.

Also in the prelims, Andie Changamire ran a time of 61.28 in the 400 meters, running in a tough lane on the outer most lane of the track.

Ella Tschida competed in the discus on Wednesday and the Shot Put on Thursday, as the youngest competitor to qualify in both events.  Her discus throw was 101’1”  and her shot mark was 35’6 1/2”.  

“She has a lot to look forward to in those events in years to come!” said her coach.

Josie Reckelberg competed in the long jump at state for the first time and leaped 15’10 3/4” to place her in the top half in that event.   

Sophia Otto made it to the state meet for the first time in the pole vault, which Reimer-Kealy said is always a very competitive event. Otto vaulted nine feet and earned valuable experience for the future.

“We had three relay teams compete at state,” Reimer-Kealy said.

On Wednesday, with very good hand offs, the 4x100 meter relay team of Reckelberg, Thompson, Kali Schendzielos and Salayna Allen set a new school record breaking the 50 second mark with a time of 49.96 which landed them in 14th out of 22 teams.

“This was an improvement from last year’s state placing,” Reimer-Kealy said.

Also on Wednesday, the 4x400 relay team broke the school record that was last set in 2011 with a time of 4:06.84. 

“The girls each had very good splits and good hand offs,” Reimer-Kealy noted.  “This was a definite goal for the team of Katelyn Brower, Adele Changamire, Kaylyn Rickard and Andie Changamire.”

On Thursday, Becker started off the first race of the meet with the 4x800 relay and according to Reimer-Kealy,  “each runner did their job the way they were supposed to and ran smart legs.”

Brower started off the race with her best split of the year, while Adele Changamire was the next to take the baton and made up ground to be challenging for the first position before handing it off to Sydnee Bull.  Taking the baton for the anchor leg was Andie Changamire who patiently made up the ground to challenge for the top spot and then down the home stretch when Andie was able to overtake her competitor for the win in the Bulldogs’ heat. 

“With this effort our girls were able to place seventh overall and make the podium along with receiving their medals by beating out multiple teams in the ‘faster’ heat,” Reimer-Kealy said.

Overall, the coach was ecstatic with the results and efforts of her team.

“We thank our seniors who will be missed next year, as they provided great leadership and experience to this very young team,” Reimer-Kealy concluded.  “We are so proud of our girls and the journey they have had this season.  There were many highlights for this young group and we are excited for next season. Many thanks to all of our parents as well, they have shown much support all season long.”