Track season finishes at regionals

Albany’s boys and girls track teams competed in the Region I-2A track meet last weekend in Springtown, facing one of the most competitive fields in recent memory. Though no athletes advanced to the state meet this year, coaches said the experience will be a motivator going forward.

For the boys, strong efforts came up just short in several events. Jakobi Roberson narrowly missed qualifying with a 44-foot triple jump, falling just two inches shy of the wildcard mark. Breylon Billington placed third in the pole vault but was bumped from first after a last-attempt clearance by another athlete. In the running events, the 800 relay team finished sixth, while the mile relay—ranked fourth going into finals—was disqualified due to a baton infraction after the race, ending their run. “The guys worked as hard as any group I’ve had in years,” said head coach Rod Britting. “It just wasn’t our meet.”

On the girls’ side, sophomores Ashlyn Miller and Zayne LeFevre represented Albany and gained valuable experience despite not advancing. Head coach Lauren Peacock said both left the meet disappointed, but she believes it will drive them to work even harder in the offseason. “They got a taste of the regional stage, and I think it’s going to make them want it even more next year,” she said. With younger athletes expected to join the program, Peacock anticipates the team will be more competitive in relays and overall depth in 2026.

Both programs now shift into offseason mode, with a focus on strength, speed, and agility training as they begin preparing for next year’s track season.