Lone Tree athletes compete in shuttle hurdle relay at state

By Jeff Yoder
Posted 5/24/22

There was an enthusiastic crowd of Lone Tree fans on hand to watch the Lions compete in the shuttle hurdle relay at the state track & field meet on Thursday. 

Nearly the entire Lone Tree …

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Lone Tree athletes compete in shuttle hurdle relay at state

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There was an enthusiastic crowd of Lone Tree fans on hand to watch the Lions compete in the shuttle hurdle relay at the state track & field meet on Thursday. 

Nearly the entire Lone Tree girls track & field team was seated in the front rows of Drake Stadium along with parents and other supporters for the final event of the early session. 

“It’s just a great experience, really,” said Lone Tree senior Cade Patterson, who anchored the relay at the state meet for the second year in a row. 

North Linn edged the Lions by less than a second for third place in the final heat, and the Lions finished 20th out of 24 teams overall with a time of 1:06.82.

“It’s just fun to be here,” said Drew Gauley. “Everybody that’s here right now was here last year, so we all knew what we’re in for.”

Jader Barajas was an alternate last year as a freshman, while Patterson, Gauley, and Ethan Willoz ran the relay with Alex Viner, who graduated in 2021. 

Lone Tree finished over a second faster than the previous season, when the relay took 19th place with a time of 1:07.87.

“Our team really worked well together all year long,” Lone Tree coach Mike Close said. “Keely Hinkel was a great addition to our coaching staff this year and I think she helped elevate all of our hurdlers. These guys were supportive of each other all season, every race good or bad. They just really believed in themselves and stayed consistent and I think that consistency really paid off down the stretch, even when our times weren’t necessarily showing it. They stayed true to the entire process and never wavered.”

The Lions ran a season-best time of 1:05.38 to claim a conference championship two weeks ago, and ran 1:05.63 at the state-qualifying meet in Lisbon to return to Drake Stadium.  

“Our state experience was great,” Close said. “The competition and the events themselves are great, but what people don’t get to see is the fun and time spent as a team we get to have. Our athletes are truly incredible people and that time spent outside of competing is truly special.”

The Lions return three members of the relay next season, along with alternates Tyce Alt and Braden Viers. 

“I want to recognize Cade Patterson, who did a great job leading this team this season,” Close said. “Not only was Cade our anchor leg of the shuttle but overall really stepped in and filled big shoes from seniors leaving the year before. We will have big shoes to fill with Cade leaving, but excited to see what that opportunity looks like.”