Tiger track team takes 13 to state

The Mountain Home Tigers will have four girls and nine boys competing at the 4A State Track and Field Championships at Bronco Stadium in Boise this week.

The Tiger harriers qualified by their places at the District Track & Field Meet at Bishop Kelly last week.

Three Mountain Home girls qualified in the 100-meter high hurdles. Mykel Barrie finished second at district, with Kacy Barrie third. Troi White did not make the top five, but received an at-large entrance, due to her time.

Mountain Home's other girl entrant is Tiffany Robins in the pole vault. Robbins finished fourth in the event at district.

Mountain Home qualified nine boys in nine events.

The Tigers' four by 200-meter relay team took first at district to qualify. The four, Anthony Pomerlee, Matt Maurer, Billy O'Brien and Michael Thornsberry, also ran the four by 100-meter relay, where they also qualified for state with a second-place effort at district.

Caom Hansen qualified in three events. The Tiger senior was third in both the shot put and discus throw, and came in fifth in the high jump. Hansen will compete in all three events at state.

Eric Smith qualified for state in the pole vault, finishing third at district.

Cory Bernaiche finished fourth in the 110-meter high hurdles, which earned him a spot in the state meet.

Lawrence Johnson qualified for state with a fifth-place effort in the 800-meter run at district.

Lee Pierce did not make the top five in the 3200-meter run, but his time was good enough to earn him a spot at state.

Tiger head track coach Rich Urquidi is optimistic about his athletes chances at the state meet.

"I think the people and the teams that we got into state for the relays and the opens, I think everybody has a legitimate chance to place.

"Caom (Hansen)'s been throwing really well, and I think he should be right up there.

"Our four by 100 and four by 200 boys relays, I think they have a really good shot -- I think our four by 200 has a really good chance of winning -- and our girls hurdlers, Mykel (Barrie) has a legitimate chance to win the highs, Kacy is right behind her, and we have three girls in the high hurdles, so that's real exciting."

The 4A state track and field action starts tomorrow (Thursday) and runs through Friday at Bronco Stadium in Boise.