After a long season of hard-fought meets and invitationals, the hard work of Monarch runners has paid off in the best way- qualifying for and competing in the state meet last weekend at Liberty University.

To qualify for such an event is very prestigious, as very few runners from Menchville earn the chance to run at States. Qualifying from Menchville were seniors James Aldridge (300m dash, 500m dash, 4x400m relay and long jump), Morris Banda (4x400m relay), Ari Riddick (4x800m relay, 1,000m run, 4x400m relay) and Lauren Satchell (4x800m relay and 4x400m relay). Also qualifying were juniors Brandon Edwards (4x400m relay and 4x800m relay), Jeremiah Bullock (4x400m relay and long jump), Patrick Myers (4x800m relay), Alejandro Ramirez (4x800m relay), Chris Ware (4x800m relay), Brittany Allen (4x400m relay), Jaelyn Windham (4x800m relay, 4x400m relay, 300m dash and long jump) and alternate BJ Diongzon. Sophomore Zoe Villareal (4x800m relay) qualified as well.

On the girls’ side, the 4x800m relay placed 4th, finishing with a personal best of 9 minutes and 58 seconds, with Ari Riddick running her 800 meters in a time of 2 minutes and 18 seconds. Riddick also placed 6th in the 1,000m run, with a time of 3 minutes and 6 seconds. The 4x400m relay team had a personal best time as well, finishing 2nd with a time of 4 minutes and 3 seconds. Finally, Jaelyn Windham competed in two individual events, placing 9th in the 300m dash with a time of 41.96 seconds and 5th in the long jump with a jump of 17 feet and 3/4 inches- both personal bests.

On the boys’ side, James Aldridge competed in four events- all on the same day! Aldridge placed 9th in the 300m dash with a time of 37.04 seconds, 3rd in the 500m dash with a personal best time of 1 minutes and 7 seconds, 2nd in the long jump with a personal best jump of 22 feet 2 inches, and ran with the 4x400m relay team, which finished in 6th place with a time of 3 minutes 31 seconds. Jeremiah Bullock also competed in an individual event, placing 11th in the long jump with a jump of 19 feet 7 inches. The 4×800 team also performed very well, with runner Patrick Myers getting a personal record on his 800m run.

After a great weekend at Liberty University, many runners are ready for their well deserved rest before outdoor track season. But, when they start back up, so does the quest for another states competition.