Chieftain track and field qualify at state level

With several students making it to state finals for track and field, Utica athletes proved that they can do their best in competition. Eight chieftains went to the state finals on Sat., June 2nd, 2012. Seniors Chris Scott, Glen Scott, James Abbey, Zac Freeland, Joe Engel, Erik Cublerson, Margaret Goettsch, and junior Freddie Crittenden all sported black and orange as they competed for best in the state.

The all-senior 4x800m relay team of C. Scott, G. Scott, Abbey, and Freeland took eighth place in the state while also breaking the current school record, which they recently set, with an impressive time of 7:57.4.  The Utica 4x400m also qualified at states with a team consisting of Crittenden, C. Scott, G. Scott, and Abbey.

Next year the Chieftains will definitely miss the Scott brothers as they both qualified for states in three different events. They were both a part of the 4x800m and 4x400m relay team, and also each ran an individual event as well. Chris Scott qualified for the 1600m and Glen Scott qualified for the 800m.

Junior Freddie Crittenden qualified for both the 110m hurdles and the 300m hurdles.  He went all-state taking third place for the 110m hurdles and was, unfortunately, after winning first place in the 300m hurdles, disqualified.

Seniors Joe Engel and Margaret Goettsch both qualified for states in shot-put. Margaret was the only female to represent the Chieftains at the competition this year. Engel went all-state with eighth place in the event.

Utica was also represented by one pole-vaulter, senior Erik Cublerson, who qualified for states by taking first place at the regional competition with a height of 12’3”.