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Four athletes from Hot Springs got to compete in the Blue Devil Invitational last weekend in Corvallis. With 16 teams to compete against, it was a great way to kick off the season. Sophomore David Chapman competed in five events; taking 22nd place in the 100 meters with a time of 12.85 seconds, eighth place in the 110 meter hurdles at 25.35, 31 feet 4 inches and personal record in the shot-put, eighth place in the triple jump with a 36 ft. 3.5 inch jump and landed a personal record in the long jump with a 16 ft. 9.75 inch jump.

Sophomore Wyatt Campbell placed seventh in the 3200 meter run with a personal record of 13:05.94 and took 14th in the 1600 meter race with a personal record time of 5:44.69. Sophomore Georgia Uski placed 15th in the Javelin with a 50 ft. throw and 15th in the shot put with a 22 ft.10 inch throw. Sophomore Calvin Timmer boasted two PR’s; he shot-putted 24 feet in the JV competition and jumped 13 ft. 1 inch in the JV long jump.

Coach Andrew Leichtnam said that they have 11 kids out this season, “What is very satisfying is the fact that all 11 athletes are great kids that work hard and make my life much easier.” His wife Mindy Leichtnam is the assistant coach.

Coach Leichtnam said the team is definitely led this year by the sophomore class, including Weston Slonaker, Nick McAllister, Chapman, Uski, Timmer and Campbell. “These athletes are the foundation and future of the program. They will most likely all compete well into the Divisional and State meets this year.”

Leichtnam said that the team's strength this year is that they are very well balanced in all aspects of track and field. “We have several athletes that will compete well in both sprinting and hurdle events. Many of these athletes cross over well into the field events. We have several kids that should be very competitive in the discus, javelin, high jump and long jump.”

The top returnees from last year’s team are: Slonaker, who was a divisional qualifier in the 100, 200, both relays and the discus; McAllister, who was a divisional qualifier in the 400, 110 hurdles and long jump; Junior Quincy Styles-Depoe, who was a divisional qualifier in the 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, high jump and the 400 relay; and Uski, who was a divisional qualifier in the discus.

“We are a very young team this year with a lot of room for growth. I’m very interested to see how much growth this sophomore group has had since their freshman year,” said Leichtnam.