CHANUTE — Going into the season, Iola High School track and field coach Dana Daugharthy was prepared for some growing pains with his young group of athletes. There have certainly been some, but now with the season coming down the stretch, the team feels they are ready to peak at the right time.
One of those athletes that seems to be performing at the top of her game is freshman Ashleigh Nicholas.
“My confidence has grown a lot,” Nicholas said. “My first track meet I remember shaking like crazy. It has been a great experience to go through the track meets and gain confidence.”
At the Thad Clements Invitational in Chanute on Friday, Nichols earned the Iola girls’ only top-six finishes. She took third in the 300-meter hurdles and sixth in the 100-meter hurdles.
Nicholas said her introduction into high school track and field was a smooth one. She thanked her teammates for that.
I expected to come to high school and have the older people think they were better than me, because I was just a freshman, but they were actually really sweet, really nice and helpful,” she said. “We treat each other like family.
“I’m just going to keep working at it,” she continued. “No matter how many times I mess up or how much pain I’m in, I got to keep going through it, because that makes me better.
“The events that I want (to make state in) are the 100-meter hurdles and the 300-meter hurdles,”
On the boys’ side, Chase Regehr leads a group that has been through a lot this season, but Regehr says the troubles around the team have made the group that are still competing even tougher.
“We are a tight group,” Regehr said. “We are always riding each other to be better and we are encouraging each other. We are bonded tight through our struggles for sure.”
According to Daugharthy, the team wouldn’t be as strong as it is without the leadership that Regehr has provided.
“Regehr has had a very good junior season,” Daugharthy said. “He is the leader of our team and desires to be really good.”
The junior took fourth in the 800-meter run on Friday and was a key member of the 4×800 team that took third, and the 4×400 team that finished fourth.
For Regehr, he has his sights set on even bigger accomplishments later this season.
“I look to continue to strive for improvements especially heading into these last few weeks heading into league and regionals,” Regehr said.
HUMBOLDT RESULTS
The Cubs also competed at the Thad Clements Invitational.
Bryce Isaac led the Cub boys with two second-place finishes. He took second in both the long jump and triple jump.
