Powell Middle School’s sixth graders now know what it’s like to be middle school athletes.

The school held its annual Sixth Grade Track Meet on May 12 and 13, with students competing against one another in a variety of exhibition track and field events. It was the first Sixth Grade Track Meet since 2019, as last year’s event was scrapped due to COVID-19.

With seventh grade being the first year students can compete for their schools, having the chance to end the sixth-grade school year with the meet gives students a glimpse of a sport foreign to them. 

“We hope that giving the opportunity to partake in some of the events gives them a little insight of what it is,” coach Chelsea Buher said. “Hopefully it will lead to higher numbers for our school’s track program.”

In track events, the students competed in the 50, 75, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, a hurdles race, 4x100 relay and 800 medley, while they participated in high jump, long jump and shot put for field events. Students were required to compete in four events, as well as the mandatory obstacle course. 

Between families of the sixth graders and older students, hundreds of spectators were on hand. After the initial jitters of the event, the students thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

“The first day, the kids are very hesitant, but then they find out they’re pretty good at it,” Buher said. “We were so excited to come back and do it with the sixth graders this year. It was pure enjoyment for them, being around friends, getting outside and leaving class.”

Girls Shot Put: 1. Alex Turner (22’8.5”), 2. Anika Anderson, 3. Emery Hernandez

Boys Shot Put: 1. Kaden Wolff (29.7), 2. Brady Harvey, 3. Cody Fisher

Girls Long Jump: 1. Cambree Dicks (9’7”), 2. Emery Hernandez, 3. Madisynn Valdez

Boys Long Jump: 1. Ben Ostermiller (15’6”), 2. Breckyn Kobbe, 3. Brady Harvey

Girls High Jump: 1. Kaedenze Carter (45”), 2. Montana Mixon, 3. Emery Hernandez, Cambree Dicks, Chloe Chouinard

Boys High Jump: 1. Pratt Wambeke (46”), 2. Mason Green & 3. Braxton Bott

Girls Hurdles: 1. Leah Graham (9.3), 2. Ava Gilliatt, 3. Eleasah Horsley

Boys Hurdles: 1. Sawyer Wormald (11.8), 2. Landon Moss, 3. Tanner Seifert

50 Girls: 1. Leah Graham (7.76), 2. Alexa Johnston, 3. Taylor Peters

50 Boys: 1. Brekyn Kobbe (6.95), 2. Breylon Marchant, 3. Braxton Batt

75 Girls: 1. Montan Mixon (11.41), 2. Eleasah Horsley, 3. Alexa Johnston

75 Boys: 1. Brady Harvey (10.33), 2. Ben Ostermiller, 3. Kason Sherman

100 Girls: 1. Leah Graham (14.96), 2. Eleasah Horsley, 3. Alexa Johnston

100 Boys: Brekyn Kobbe (13.21), Brady Harvey, Dayton Lawrence

200 Girls: 1. Leah Graham (32.34), 2. Anika Anderson, Ashlee Jacobsen

200 Boys: 1. Tanner Seifert (30.41), 2. Hoyt Wells, 3. Kaden Wolff

400 Girls: 1. Karee Cooley (1:18.58), 2. Kaedenze Carter, 3. Taylor Peters, Ava Gilliatt

400 Boys: 1. Tanner Seifert(1:14.6), 2. Brekyn Kobbe, 3. Dayton Lawrence

800 Girls: 1. Karee Cooley (2:48.32), 2. Kaedenze Carter, 3. Ava Gilliatt

800 Boys: 1. Tanner Seifert (2:55.00), 2. Lincoln Crawford, 3. Daniel Slate

1600 Girls: 1. Karee Cooley (6:05), 2. Caydee Eden

1600 Boys: 1. Hoyt Wells (6:07), 2. Calvin Opps, 3. Jonathan Hine

Girls Obstacle Course: 1. Emery Hernandez (36.08), 2. Eleasah Horsley, 3. Leah Graham

Boys Obstacle Course: 1. Breckyn Kobbe (33.8), 2. Lincoln Crawford, 3. Pratt Wambeke