T-Birds at full-force in track & field win
Jessica Coate
With a record of 10 National champions and 15 All Americans last year, Mesa’s Thunderbirds have some big shoes to fill for the 2011 season. It looks like they are off to a good start.
The last meet at Glendale on Feb. 12 was a huge success for the T-Birds by qualifying 18 members of the track and field team including some returning champions, Lacey Palmer, Melissa Peters, and Julia Wild, for the national championship.
With their last indoor meet approaching they would like to see 20-24 qualifying team members for nationals.
“We want to qualify as many people as we can,” said Coach Steve Jacobs who is in his 24th year of coaching track and field.
Patricia Barela, who runs both the 3,000 meters and the 5,000 meters is only 0.5 seconds away from qualifying.
While the indoor season’s last meet was on Feb. 18, the outdoor season began the next day at Central Arizona College in Casa Grande.
