The Yellowjackets and seven other track teams competed at Pinckneyville on Friday, April 10. Both Chester’s boys and girls teams placed second in their respective divisions. The day was filled with numerous personal bests and top finishes.
Leading the field events, Senior Gabe Coffman once again won high jump. Coffman cleared a height of 6’ 0”, Sophomore Danny Worley cleared just two inches shorter at 5′ 10” to place third. Worley also continued to place third in long jump, with a leap of 19’ 10.25”, Junior TaShawn Palacio followed closely in fourth with a distance of 19’ 4.75”.
In the pole vault, Junior Lauren Cowell placed first with an impressive height of 8’ 0”, winning by two feet. Senior Ivan Hobbs placed third in the men’s pole vault, surmounting a height of 9’ 6”.
Sophomore Paxton Beam took a top five position in both the shotput and discus throw, throwing a personal best in each. Beam placed third in shotput with a throw of 39’ 2”, and fifth in discus with a distance of 119’ 2”.
Sophomore Donnie Sabo won both the 100 (11.33s) and 200 meter dash (23.11s). Junior Joella Eggemeyer mirrored this performance in the women’s division, winning the 100 meter dash in 13.08s. Eggemeyer also won the 200 meter dash with a spectacular personal best of 26.98s. Gabe Coffman continued his winning streak in the 400 meter dash, clocking a time of 51.90s, TaShawn Palacio followed in fifth with a time of 54.88s. Yet another pr, Freshman Laurey Hayer placed second in the 400 meter dash for the Lady Jackets, running a time of 1:09.32.
In the distance events, two freshmen Jackets prevailed. Katelynn Vallett won the 1600 meter run, running a personal best time of 6:07.29. Vallett also placed second in the 800 meter run, clocking another personal best of 2:33.32. Duncan Bargman placed fourth in the men’s division, with his own personal best of 2:18.67.
Donnie Sabo, Gabe Coffman, TaShawn Palacio, and Danny Worley comprised a relay team that won both the 4×100 and 4×200. The boys ran seasonal bests in each race, clocking 44.45s in the 4×100 and 1:32.83 in the 4×200. The Lady Jackets also ran a season best in their 4×100 relay, placing third with a time of 54.96s. The girls continued to win the 4×400 relay with a time of 4:43.33.