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celebrating top performances week after week...</h3>
Kevin McClanahan and Gabrielle Casey enjoyed dominating performances at Saturday's RE-1J meet in Longmont. Photos by Alan Versaw.
The 2014 track season is now underway, and Kevin McClanahan and Gabrielle Casey are off on the right foot.
Kevin McClanahan dominated the RE-1J meet last Saturday in Longmont, grabbing the top position in each of the 100, 200, and long jump. The senior out of Erie High School won the 100 in 11.28, the 200 in 22.90 and the long jump with a 20-7.25.
“I honestly couldn’t be happier with my weekend,” McClanahan said. “It felt nice to go out there and win my events, and it got me excited for the rest of the season.”
Even though he is a senior, this is only McClanahan’s second track season. He came out for Erie’s track team last year as a junior and saw some impressive results for a newcomer.
“Last year at state I was ninth in the 100 and sixth in the 200. My coach told me that new kids just don’t do that, and that I had high potential for what I could do.” McClanahan took his coach’s word and focused on his training, running with a club team over the summer and this past indoor season. Most recently this winter, McClanahan won the 400m in a 48.91 at the Simplot Games, one of the nation’s top high school indoor track meets. That performance ranked him 11th in the nation for indoor in that event.
Now McClanahan is ready to make this outdoor season count.
Winning all of his events this weekend was sweet way to kick off his season and has made him extremely hopeful for what he can do. “I think around mid season last year I was running low 11s in the 100,” McClanahan said. "So if I can run an 11.2 right now, I think that my performance for state could be phenomenal. I’m performing now as I was in the middle of last season so it gives me a really positive outlook for the rest of the meets I have.”
McClanahan has understandably formed some impressive goals for his final season: a 10.7 100, a low 21 second 200 and a low 45 second 400. “I have lots of hopes,” he said, “but my biggest one is to leave a lasting impression on my high school and in the high school track world.”
At the pace he’s set off, it looks like McClanahan’s dreams could soon become a reality.
At the same meet, Gabrielle Casey also ran away with some impressive victories. The junior from Niwot High School won the 100 hurdles in 17.49 and the pole vault with a 10-0 jump. Casey also placed in the 300 hurdles and the long jump.
“It was a fantastic first meet,” said Casey. “I’m really happy with my 100 hurdle time. I’m looking forward to doing better in the next weeks but it was a good start to the season.”
Casey credits her early success to the winter training she did with her team this year. Something she missed out on in previous years, Casey has found the work she put in this winter crucial for her current level of fitness. “It was something I hadn’t done before and it got me in shape before the season even started,” she said.
A diversely talented athlete who has found success in many events, Casey is hoping to focus on the 100 hurdles and the pole vault this season. “I was sixth at state in the pole vault last year so I’m wanting to focus on that again,” Casey said. “I also really like the 100 hurdles and was okay in that last year but I just got my three step down, so I’m hoping to make it to state in that event, too.”
These early season meets are essential not necessarily for the fast times or long marks but because of the reassurance they provide the athletes that their hard work in the winter is going to pay off in the spring. This holds true for Casey. “This weekend made me feel pretty confident,” she said. “I’m excited to get going and see some better times in there.”
Based on their impressive season openers, Colorado Track XC honors Kevin McClanahan and Gabrielle Casey as the athletes of the week. Their performances signal a promising track season to come!