(Neola, IA) — Tri Center Girls Track and Field competed at the Central College indoor meet this past Saturday with some solid performances. Tess Casey finished in 2nd place in the 400 and 6th place in the 200. Layla Meador was 7th in the 100 Hurdles. Head Coach Lexi Cochran is excited about the overall numbers for this year’s team — 20 girls are out this spring which will give her some options.
Last year, Tri Center finished 2nd in the 4×800 relay at state but Cochran says they lost some key runners so is not as optimistic about that relay. She is looking at the 4×100 and Sprint Medley at least to start the season but is still trying to sort out the pieces
Tri Center has two exciting Juniors on the team with Zohie Payne a state qualifier in the 100 hurdles last year and Casey who was 15th at state in the 400 and after her good run on Saturday is poised to get on the podium this year says Cochran
Seniors for the Trojans include Meador who is a hurdler, Lucy Elsener who is a sprinter, and Soleil McCool who has ran cross country but is back to track after missing last year. The Shuttle Hurdle relay did make it to state last year and finished third — they return Payne and Meador but Cochran is still looking for two more girls
Cochran says their distance runners are new this year; she also says the jumpers are inexperienced coming into the season; Junior Caitlin Greiner almost made it to state last year in the shot put and Junior Ella Wingert came close in the discus and both are back to lead the field events.
Tri Center will open their outdoor season at the Audubon Early Bird meet this coming Monday, March 30.
Complete Interview with Head Coach Lexi Cochran
