by Anthony Robinson

The Atlantic girls track team will be sending 9 events to the state meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, May 19-21. The 1500 meter run, 3000 meter run, 200 meter dash, discus, shuttle hurdle relay, 800 meter sprint medley, 4×200, 4×400, and 4×800 will be represented.

Junior Ali Krogman will represent the Trojanns in the 1500 as well as the 3000.  Krogman is seeded 10 in the 1500 and six in the 3000. This is third year out of three tries that Krogman will be competing in both the 1500 and the 3000 at state.

Junior Melanie Nielsen will run in the 200 meter dash this upcoming week. Nielsen 27.40 second performance last Thursday qualified for seed number 14.  Her time at districts was nearly a full second slower than her best this season.  She has swept through the outdoor schedule of the 2011 track season with first place finishes and looks to continue her success at the state meet.

In the discus junior Paige Kennon will represt AHS.  The Trojann junior just made it into the field as the number 22 seed.

The shuttle hurdle team comprised of junior Amanda Gude, junior Samantha McConnell, junior Paige Kennon, and sophomore Mackenzie Holmes will compete on Thursday morning.

Holmes, senior Kari Sandage, Nielsen and junior Alex Hartwig represent the sprint medley team headed to Des Moines. Their outstanding time at districts puts them in the number three seed at state.

The 4×200 team with Nielsen, junior Sam Peterson,  Hartwig and either senior Sandage or Holmes will be competing on Friday at state.

The 4×400 team that qualified for state comprised of  Nielsen, Peterson, senior Jessi Arneson, and Hartwig, will have a bit of a shake-up at the state meet.  Senior Taylor Young will replace Arneson in the third leg. The Trojanns believe that they will get an even faster time with Young in the lineup. The relay has the seven seed in the race.

The 4×800 team Hartwig, sophomore Shelby Worth, Arneson, and Krogman will compete on Thursday morning.

Schedule of Events:

Thursday, May 19

Discus: Flight one- 9:00 a.m. (Paige Kennon)

4×100 Shuttle Hurdle: (preliminaries) Heat 2, lane 7- 9:20 a.m.

3000 meter run: (FINALS)- 9:55 a.m. (Ali Krogman)

4×800: (FINALS) Section 1- 11:35 a.m.

200 meter dash: (preliminaries) Heat 2, lane 2 (Melanie Nielsen)- 12:50 p.m.

Friday, May 20

4×200: (FINALS) Section 2, lane 3- 11:05 a.m.

4×400: (preliminaries) Heat 1, lane 3- 2:20 p.m.

Saturday, May 21

800 meter sprint medley: (FINALS) Section 3, lane 3- 9:24 a.m.

1500 meter run: (FINALS)- 2:35 p.m.

FINALS:

4×100 shuttle hurdle relay, 4×400, 200 meter dash (times to be announced)