Battle Mountain Track Teams See Significant Growth and Success

Battle Mountain's track teams have nearly doubled in size over the last year — 73 kids are out for the team this year, up from 39 last year. Head boys coach Matt Felton is excited, and for good reason. The team's growth is driven by youth, with a strong group of young distance runners and sprinters.

Felton and head girls coach Rob Parish — who share duties by event groups, see a lot of potential in their young squad. They're three meets into the season, and just came off a successful day in Palisade. At that meet, freshman Elijah Walker jumped 17 feet, 2 inches in the long jump, placing fourth out of 35 athletes. That's a notable achievement; Felton says they haven't had a freshman clear 15 feet since before COVID.

The boys team is short on seniors, but each of them brings something important to the table. Gabe Dozois is the vocal leader, mentoring underclassmen and setting standards. He's also versatile, competing in events from high jump to open 800s to 4×400-meter relay legs. Fellow senior Knox Holton, a lacrosse player, has already notched a 12.06 100-meter time. Sawyer Willis, who barely missed qualifying for state in the pole vault last year, has already hit 11 feet this spring.

Felton wants to see the team go under 8:30 - or even tease 8:20. in the 4×800. They'll put their best runners in the event at the Eagle Valley Invite to see where they stand. The team's strongest distance runner is junior Nate Beuche, who logged 60-mile weeks all winter and just ran his first sub-10-minute 3,200-meter time. Parish says they'll be strategic about scheduling Beuche's next 8-lap attempt to give him the best shot at qualifying for state.

On the girls side, the Huskies have a strong distance crew that was second as a team at the state cross-country meet. That's the 10th time in 11 years they've finished in the top two. The team is looking to build on that success, with a strong group of young runners.

Make no mistake, the Huskies are aiming high, they want to finish in the top three in the Western Slope. That's a lofty goal, but with their growth and talent, it's not out of reach. The team's success will depend on how they develop over the season, but for now, they're on the right track.

The short version: The team is growing, and they're getting faster. They're looking to make a statement in the Western Slope, and they've got the talent to back it up. Read that again; 73 kids are out for the team this year. That's a significant increase, and it shows the team's culture shift is working.

Felton and Parish are being strategic about their scheduling, looking for competitive situations that will help their athletes develop. They're not just focusing on winning, but on building confidence and skills. That approach has already paid off, with athletes like Walker and Beuche setting personal bests and winning heats.

As the season progresses, it will be worth watching to see how the Huskies develop. They've got a lot of potential, and they're looking to make the most of it. The community is likely to be supportive - folks around here love to see their local teams succeed.

The Huskies will face tough competition in the Western Slope, but they're ready for the challenge. They're looking to make a statement, and they've got the talent and drive to back it up. This will be a team to watch in the coming weeks.

In Palisade, the Huskies saw some promising performances. Walker's long jump was a highlight, but he wasn't the only one to impress. The team's overall performance was strong, with many athletes setting personal bests.

Parish says they'll be careful about scheduling Beuche's next 8-lap attempt. They want to give him the best shot at qualifying for state, and that means looking for competitive situations with good weather and low altitude.

The Huskies are on the right track, but they've still got a lot to prove. They're looking to build on their success and make a statement in the Western Slope. It's going to be an interesting season.

Growth and Development

The team's focus on youth and development is driving their success. They're looking to build a strong foundation, and that means investing in their young athletes. Felton and Parish are being strategic about their scheduling, looking for competitive situations that will help their athletes develop.

As the season progresses, it will be worth watching to see how the Huskies develop. They've got a lot of potential, and they're looking to make the most of it. The community is likely to be supportive. folks around here love to see their local teams succeed.

The Huskies will face tough competition in the Western Slope, but they're ready for the challenge. They're looking to make a statement, and they've got the talent and drive to back it up. This will be a team to watch in the coming weeks.

What's not being said is how the team's growth will impact the local sports scene. With more kids out for the team, there's likely to be more interest in track and field. That could lead to more support for the team, and more opportunities for local athletes.

The Huskies are on the right track, but they've still got a lot to prove. They're looking to build on their success and make a statement in the Western Slope. It's going to be an interesting season.

Felton says they're going to go for it, they want to see where they stand in comparison to the state. They'll put their best runners in the 4×800 at the Eagle Valley Invite, and see what happens. That's a bold move, but it's one that could pay off.

The team's success will depend on how they develop over the season. They've got a lot of potential, but they need to stay focused and keep working. If they can do that, they might just find themselves at the top of the Western Slope.

For now, the Huskies are looking good. They've got a strong team, and they're looking to make a statement. It's going to be an interesting season, and one that's worth watching. The question is; can they keep it up?