Merrill Track & Field shows promise at Indoor Conference Championships

The Merrill High School Track & Field program competed at the recent Indoor Conference Championships, with both boys’ and girls’ teams showcasing developing talent and earning notable individual achievements.
“The indoor conference meet provided a great opportunity for our athletes to compete against some of the best in the conference,” said Merrill Track & Field Varsity Head Coach Alec Oestreich. “We saw significant progress from many individuals, with several athletes achieving strong finishes and personal bests.”
On the boys’ side, Jace Olson had a busy and successful day. He clocked 7.72 seconds in the 60-meter dash and followed it up with a 25.32-second performance in the 200-meter dash. Olson also demonstrated his versatility in the field, leaping to an impressive 18 feet 9 inches in the long jump.
In the middle distances, Gabe Keys and Jacob Mueller ran competitively in the 800-meter run, finishing close together with times of 2:24 and 2:25, respectively. In the throwing events, Jax Hanson put forth a strong effort in the shot put, reaching a distance of 40 feet 1 inch.
The Merrill girls’ team also had several noteworthy performances. Jaz Severt placed 12th in the 60-meter dash with a time of 8.81 seconds. She also ran the 200-meter dash in 29.57 seconds and cleared 4 feet 4 inches in the high jump.

Mia Smith clocked in at 1:06 in the 400-meter dash. In the distance events, Charlotte Van Der Nest showed her endurance in the 1600-meter run, finishing in 6:29.
“The dedication and hard work they’ve put in throughout the indoor season are evident, and we’re excited to see this momentum carry into the outdoor track and field season,” Oestreich said.
The girls’ 4x200 meter relay team put together a strong race, earning a respectable 5th place with a time of 1:59.53. In the field events, Brenna Jirovec matched Severt’s height in the high jump, clearing 4 feet 4 inches, and also recorded a jump of 13 feet 3 inches in the long jump.
Maddie Robbins secured a 9th place finish in the pole vault, reaching a height of 8 feet 6 inches. Finally, Merin Yates earned a podium finish, claiming 3rd place and a bronze medal in the shot put with a throw of 32 feet 8 inches.
“These results will serve as valuable experience and motivation as the team prepares for the outdoor season ahead,” Oestreich said.
Congratulations to all the Bluejay athletes on their efforts!