ROGERS — It was a good news/bad news scenario for the Rogers High boys track and field team at the state indoor championships.
The good news is that the Mounties finished fourth in the state. The bad news is that the three teams ahead of them are fellow 7A-West Conference members.
As a result, Rogers has some ground to gain if it hopes to contend for a conference championship. Developing depth remains a concern for the Mounties as the school district is now in its third year of having two high schools.
“We have some people that are going to score, and I am excited about that,” Rogers coach Jim Yurwitz said. “But this is one year that the split has really caught up to us.We are going to have to develop some more depth. Bentonville, Fayetteville and Fort Smith Southside are the teams to chase.”
As in the past, the Mounties strength will be in distance races. Phillip Freeman, Drew Storment, John Doss and Brad Carney are the team’s top distance runners, with Freeman expected to contend in the 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs.
Anthony Bazz is Rogers top sprinter, setting school records in the 60-meter hurdles, the 400-meter dash and the 200-meter dash at the indoor meet earlier this month.
“Anthony Bazz is going to be our multi-event guy,” Yurwitz said. “That nucleus of guys in the distance and Anthony Bazz should be able to score some points.”
Depth is a problem in thefield events as Yurwitz sees only possible points in the pole vault. He’ll rely on pole vaulters Rick Bailey and Brett Elam.
“Bailey tied the school indoor record the other day,” Yurwitz said. “He just missed 14 feet. I hope both our pole vaulters will be consistent 14-feet fi nishers.”
The Lady Mounties will also rely on a strong contingent of distance runners. Like their male counterparts, they finished fourth at the indoor meet.
Maggie Montoya won the 800-meter run (2 minutes, 23.25 seconds) at the indoor championships, and she hassolidified her place as one of the state’s top cross country runners.
Erica Owen is expected to contribute points in the 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs, in which she fi nished third in both events at the indoor meet.
“Maggie is capable of running a 5-minute mile,”Yurwitz said. “That has only been done by one other girl in the state ever. Erica Owen, who has committed to Memphis, is one of the top milers and two milers in the state.”
Ashley Randels set the school indoor record in the 400, and she’ll also compete in the triple jump.
News, Pages 9 on 02/27/2011