With a team half the size of Thunder Mountain High School’s, Juneau-Douglas High School track and field might feel a little lost in all their counterpart’s success. Despite being the underdog compared to TMHS track and field juggernaut, JDHS has managed to qualify nine athletes to state, a remarkable number considering their short 2016 roster.

JDHS will send: Justin Miller, Duncan Smith, Ryan Moritz, Soren Thompson, Noah Machakos, Seth Machakos, Brianna Fallis, Ashleigh Neal, Cody Weldon, Arne Ellefson-Carnes and David Timothy to the state meet which takes place this Friday and Saturday.

Moritz, Thompson, and Seth and Noah Machakos will compete in the boys 4X800-meter relay. Smith will compete in the boys long jump and boys triple jump, Weldon in the boys shot put, Moritz in the boys 800-meter run and Miller in the boys 100 and 200-meter runs.

Fallis, Neal, Miller and Timothy will compete in the unified 4X100-meter relay.

At the state meet Smith looks to improve on his impressive 39-foot triple jump. The boys 400 relay team is currently ranked sixth in the state and has been dominating in Region V competitions. Miller finished fourth in the 100, behind TMHS’ stellar sprinters, but had a great time which qualified him for the state meet. All four have a shot to make it to the state finals, and if so, would comprise an all Region V boys 100 meter final. Miller finished third in the 200 with a time good enough to join two TMHS athletes at the state meet.

Look to the Empire online for coverage from the ASAA State Track and Field Championships this Friday and Saturday.