Velasquez sprinting to lead for track team
Senior winning races as an individual and anchor for boys track team
Senior Julian Velasquez is in his third track season at Boone and has emerged as one of the region’s premier sprinters in the 200-meter dash. He also anchors Boone’s sprint relays.
May 22, 2019
With multiple first place finishes and near-record times, senior Julian Velasquez has had a remarkable 2019 track season at Boone.
Velasquez, who has run for Boone since his sophomore year, has always been a standout athlete. On his first year, Velasquez had the fastest time on the team for the 400-meter dash, at 56.45 seconds.
From the start of this year’s season, Velasquez has excelled in the 200-meter dashes. Boys varsity coach Rodney Rutledge said he has been very impressed with Velasquez this season.
“He has progressed very well over the course of this season,” Rutledge said, “He has increased his productivity on the track and is continuously pushing towards his ‘personal best.’”
Velasquez finished second in the 200-meter dashes at the Rob Marshall Gold Medal Meet on March 27, his first of this year, and since then has not slowed down.
At Ludlow Invitational on April 6, Velasquez ended with first place in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.99 seconds.
His following meet, at the Donnie Carnes Memorial on April 13, Julian finished in the 200-meter run at 23.55 seconds, his personal best and the fastest time at Boone since 2017, where Rondell Douglass had the same time.
In total, Julian has finished first place four times this season in the individual 200-meter dashes.
In addition to his accomplishments in the 200-meter dashes, Velasquez also runs as the anchor for Boone’s 400×100 relay team, which is one of the best in the district.
“Julian is willing to push himself beyond his limits,” Rutledge said, “He has been able to take on the leadership role with ease, never backing down from a challenge.”
Other members on the relay team include seniors Jantje Wingo and Jay Williams, and sophomore Kameron Wildt.
Looking at the 2018 season state qualifying times, it seems likely that Boone’s 400×100 meter relay team will make it.
Aside from himself, Velasquez said he could attribute his success to his teammates, his father, and his coaches.
Girls team being led in field events
The girls track and field team at Boone, under coach Molly Petty, has had plenty of success this season.
Junior Kayona Dean has had multiple first place finishes in the shot put and discus. Her shot put record is 30 feet 6 inches, and her discus record is 72 feet, 5 inches.
Petty called eighth grader Hailey Carter “a great addition to our team.” Carter finished third in the varsity girls 400-meter dash at the Grant County Dorning Friday Night Lights Invitational.
The 4×100 and 4×200 relay teams, consisting of Carter, seniors Cassie Dean and sophomores Machenzie Cahill, Danielle Funke have “continued to improve” Petty said.
Junior Kyara Bane “has made a name for herself as a great discus thrower,” Petty said. Bane has finished top five multiple times at meets this season.