Finding points in the field events will be key for Bluejay tracksters

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Plenty of state meet qualifying talent returns for the Bluejay thinclads, but finding points in field events will be key to making the team more competitive overall.

The Perry boys qualified in three individual events and two relays for the 2016 state track meet, and with most of that talent still on hand, the goal of returning to the blue oval at Drake Stadium is definitely within reach.

Reece Dunlap was 20th in the 100 and 23rd in the 200 at state, with Adan Medina 21st in the 400. The duo were joined by Alexis Garrido and since-graduated Jose Castellanos in placing 13th in the 4×400, with then-seniors Jacob Thompson and Alex Long running with Kaleb Olejniczak and Zachary Thompson in the 4×800, which finished 18th.

Head coach Ben Coy currently has 36 thinclads out for the Bluejays, including state meet alternates Brandon Kenyon, Rashon Ivory, Juma Bushiri and Nic Fellom.

While Coy believes the team strength lies in the middle distances (400 and 800 meters) he also expects solid results from several strong sprinting contenders in the 100 and 200.

Those spots are expected to score well in most meets, but Perry has spent many seasons staring each meet in a hole thanks to lack of point production in the throwing events and the high jump, while the long jump has not been what it once was.

“The past couple of years as a whole we have been down in field events,” Coy admitted. “If we want to compete in meets, that is an area that we need to improve. There are some new faces out for track this year that will be competing in field events, so hopefully we can be more competitive in that section of meets this year.”

Tyler Soll, Luke Holtorf, Jon FLores, Cole Snyder and a few others will battle for the shot put and discus, while Ivory and Kato Dougan are the lead choices in the long jump at the moment, those others will also compete. Jacob Huffman will compete in both the long and high jump.

Fellom, Justin Stammer, Manasses Martinez, Donald Chavez and Dunlap will be used in the 100 and 200 races and relays, with Dunlap also running some 400’s while Median, Ivory and Garrido will see duty in the 200 and 400’s.

Zachary Thompson, Zach Stewart and Tyler Fessler will serve in the middle distances (400 and 800), with Bushiri handling both 800 and 1600 chores while Eduardo Sanchez will compete in the 1600 and 3200.

Coy expects Olejniczak and Kenyon to tackle the roles of utility runners, running, he said “anything from 100’s to 400 hurdles to 800’s.”

The Bluejays will join their Jayette classmates for the coed opener to the outdoor season, the 10th annual Davis Family Relays, which are scheduled for Thursday at Kaufman Track.

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