Four boys from the Rhinebeck High School outdoor track and field program are heading to the Rochester region for this weekend’s state championship meet. The two-day meet begins Saturday at Webster Schroeder High School.
The Hawks – Quin Gideon, Kamyar Kemp, Neil Murray and Augustus Lamm -- will be competing in the 3,200-meter relay after recording a time of 8 minutes, 24.57 seconds at the Section IX state qualifier. The Hawks were seeded 13th entering the meet and bettered their best time by 15 seconds.
Gideon is the only returner from last year’s 3,200 relay, when he teamed with Parker Ruger, Jason Gisby-Hanks and Brady Fischer to complete the race in 8:17.06.
Gideon is hopeful this year’s relay will run a faster race.
“It feels amazing,” said Gideon, a senior competing at his second state meet. “It’s something I did not think we were able to do at the beginning of the season. The guys I’ve been working with all season, they wanted to work hard and get to the point I was at last year.”
Lamm added, “We all ran really well (at the state qualifier). Hopefully our relay can go sub 8:20. It’s definitely possible with all we’ve done this season.”
Lamm also qualified in the 800-meter run, recording a time of 2:02.71. The sophomore was seeded 24th and beat his previous best time by four seconds.
Lamm is hoping to drop his time to under two minutes at the state meet.
“It’s been a good season for me,” said Lamm. “I’ve improved a lot since last year. I’m really happy to have this opportunity.
“I’m looking forward to the experience and seeing what it’s like.”