POMONA — Humboldt senior sprinters Tre Franklin, Karingten Hall and Iola junior hurdler Mahalie Genoble punched their tickets to next week’s state meet at Thursday’s regional meet.
While Franklin and Hall are familiar with the state meet atmosphere, this will be Genoble’s first appearance at the big dance.
“I feel good, I missed it last year but not that much but I’m going this year so I’m happy,” Genoble said.
Genoble qualified after taking third in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 48.27 seconds. She bested her time at the Pioneer League meet, where she took second in 48.83 seconds, despite clipping her foot on the final hurdle.
“I told myself to go faster, keep going,” Genoble said. “It shows if you want it more than everyone else, it makes a difference, even if you mess up. We’re making progress at the right time. My coach [David Daugharthy] has been really supportive and pushes me when he knows I need pushed.”
Franklin was the first to qualify for state Thursday after taking second in the 100-meter dash. Franklin qualified for the regional finals after taking second in the prelims with a time of 11.13 seconds. He was a few steps faster in the finals with a time of 11.05 and credits his coaches, teammates and family members for pushing him to peak at just the right time.
Iola High’s Mahalie Genoble clears a hurdle during Thursday’s 3A regional meet at West Franklin High School in Pomona. Genoble took third, earning a state track meet bid in the process.
“I feel good. I’m just trying to push my way through to qualify in all three events,” said Franklin, who also competed in the 4×100 relay and the 200-meter dash. “We’re getting better every day. I’m preparing for next week, the big meet, so I’m taking it step by step.”
Franklin also qualified for state in the 200-meter dash. He entered the finals after taking second in the 200 prelims with a time of 22.66 but finished just a step slower in the finals at 22.70.
State qualification requires either a top three finish or the next four best marks from any of the four Class 3A regional meets.
Hall made the cut with her time far surpassing another other fourth-place finishers across the state.
She opened the meet with 12.87-second finish in the prelims, then was a step faster in the finals while taking fourth in 12.75 seconds.
“I feel good. It was close. I was almost there (in first place),” said Hall, who previously qualified for state her freshman and sophomore years when she ran for Iola.
Complete results as follows:
Girls
High jump: 11. Laney Hull, Humboldt — 4’ 8”.
Pole vault: 11. Jordan , HHS — 7’ 8”.
Discus: 14. Bethany Miller, Iola — 89’ 2”; 17. Lily Lohman, Iola — 69’ 3”; 19. Gabbi Vargas-Garcia, HHS — 61’ 2”.
Javelin: 10. Carlie Weilert, HHS — 90’ 9”; 14. Kealie Keeler, Iola — 85‘ 3“; 16. Maya Shaughnessy, Iola — 69’ 3”.
