Early success for Tigers, T-Wolves at Byram Classic

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March 9, 2013

Early success for Tigers, T-Wolves at Byram Classic

By Corbin Hosler The Norman Transcript The Norman Transcript Sat Mar 09, 2013, 01:16 AM CST

NORMAN — With cool temperatures and heavy wind gusts, it wasn’t a perfect day for a track meet. But it was good enough for Norman High and Norman North, which placed highly at the Gregg Byram Track Classic that the Tigers hosted on Thursday.

Twenty-six teams competed at the event, with many of the top programs in Class 6A in attendance. That gave the meet the feel of an early-morning state meet preview. If that holds, the Tigers and Timberwolves have some promising athletes that will compete for the top spots.

Both schools had athletes win or place highly in events. The NHS boys’ squad finished fourth at the meet, while North’s placed sixth. Both girls’ teams finished outside the top six.

Cole Ridgway won two events, the shot put and discus, to lead a strong day for Tiger throwers. The NHS boys placed three throwers in both events and propel NHS to the high finish.

On the girls’ side, Caleigh Donaghe and Marisa Fleck continued to trend, placing second and third in the discus and taking the third and fourth spots at the shot put. Both set personal bests in the process.

“It’s tough weather, especially for the right-handers,” NHS coach Sonny Feexico said. “But we threw well today. There were some personal records set, which is promising.”

Imond Robinson also had a big day at the sprints. The NHS senior placed second in the 200-meter race with a time of 22.83, and he finished third in the 100 with a 11.16.

Missing from the results was NHS senior Mackenzie Wahpepah-Harris, the distance runner expected to compete for a state title in the long races. He missed the meet with a stress fracture in his foot and is expected to be out about six weeks.

“It’s tough to lose him, but injuries like that happen, especially with the distance runners because they put so much mileage on their feet,” Feexico said. “He’s rehabbing how he can, working in the pool and trying to keep his cardio up.”

The distance runners also found success at the meet, especially North junior Belle Wallace. She won the 800-meter run with a time of 2:25.68. For NHS, Hayley Redwine took second in the 1600 with a time 5:20.32, and she also finished fourth in the 3200.

North coach Mike Ramsey, whose team ran without several of the basketball players he expects to join the team next week, said he used the meet as an opportunity to run as many kids as possible and was encouraged by the results.

“It’s early in the season, but I think we’re running pretty well,” he said. “We had some kids run really good times today, faster than we’ve ever been at this point in the year.”

Corbin Hosler

Follow me @Chosler88

chosler@normantranscript.com

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