First Outdoor Meet // Warsaw VS Cherubusco

 

On Monday March 9th, the Tigers hosted their first outdoor meet of the 2026 season.  Because it is still so early in the season, it wasn't a full meet and it wasn't even officially on their schedule.  There weren't any implications as to who won or lost, but it was more like an exhibition meet to just run a few events and to see where some of the runners are at this early point of the season.  Nolan and I were thankful for the sunshine and the 70 degree temps as meets can still be really cold this early in the year. 

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When we arrived at the track, Noel was out with his hurdlers and they were setting their blocks and practicing their run-outs.  The girls would run the 100 hurdles first and then the guys would follow in the 110 high hurdles.  Noel had quite a few runners in both events so he was excited for them.

Melayna saw us standing there so she gave us a big smile as she came up to us.

But then after chatting for a couple of minutes, it was time for her to get back to work.

Nolan and I watched her do a couple of starts and then we headed up to the stands to find a place to sit and to watch her run her two races.  

Her first race was the 100 hurdles.  She was in lane #5 in the middle and there was only one heat.

You can see that she ran out to a slight lead early in the race and she was able to just hold on for the first place finish and a great time of 17.11.  (Her PR is 16.8 so it's a great place to be this early in the season!)

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Since this was a modified meet, there were only a couple of events and so about 30 minutes later, Melayna would run again in the open 400.  In a normal meet, she isn't ever able to run the open 400 because the 300 hurdles are immediately after, so she was excited to have the opportunity to run the 400 and to see what time she could run.

There would be four heats of the girls' 400 and since Melayna doesn't have an official time, she would run as the lone Tiger in the first heat... lane #2.

 

Look at that girl go!!  It didn't take her long to make up the stagger and she would go on to not only win her heat, but she took the whole event in a time of 1:04.49!!  Again...a great time for her, especially at this point in the season.  

She will run in a couple more indoor meets until the first week of April.  Then after we come back from spring break, the heart of the outdoor season will kick off and carry her through the end of May.  

This could be a good and exciting year so we better get ready!!