From HS Track & Field Coach Pete Hessler:
This was a great moment for our very young program, finishing as runner-up in only the second year that Ridgway has fielded an independent team! It was also a great way to celebrate the impact of our brand-new facility, which has allowed our athletes to train so much better than in the past.
Our girls and boys were also fortunate that a number of former track athletes have been generous with their time and expertise. Leah Loggin, our assistant coach and a former hurdler, was the reason why Ridgway qualified four hurdlers for the state meet (Emery, Macey, Jean, and Jonah). (We also want to thank Leah’s husband Mark, who took care of their two-year-old daughter, while Leah made the long trek to Lakewood for the three-day state meet.) Abby Holt, a former collegiate high jumper, has been a great support to our jumpers, including Martina, who excelled at state as a 9th grader. And Halsie Peak, a former sprinter, has worked with our sprinters and discus throwers throughout the spring.
We hope that this year’s performance helps build a foundation for the future. Our trio of sophomores—Emery, Natasha, and Ariel —scored a remarkable 38 of the team’s 46 points at state (43 if you count their relays). They will be back and ready for more next year, along with our other returning athletes. And all of them benefited from the leadership of our outgoing seniors, Sophia S. and Sophia F.