HILLSBORO, N.D.-Paper points don't mean anything in track. But they indicate Hillsboro-Central Valley could be bidding for its third state team championship this school year.
The Burros already have state team championships in Class B girls cross country and boys basketball. Hillsboro-Central Valley could make a run for the Class B girls state track title in late May.
"I'd like the girls to be thinking that,'' H-CV coach Heidi Eckart said. "We've talked about it. We have the top girls. We also have other girls who have the ability to squeeze out some points at state.''
Meets are scored with 10 points for a first-place finish in an event, eight points for second, six points for third, five points for fourth and so on down to one point for eighth place.
Based on that system, Burros state qualifiers currently have 94.7 points. That is more points than Class B girls state championship teams accumulated in eight of the last 10 seasons.
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"It's still midseason,'' Eckart said. "We want to peak at the end of the year. None of the numbers mean anything now.''
The Burros are led by Gracie Wright, Katja Berge and Reagan Baesler.
Wright is defending state 400 champion and has the fastest qualifying time in it, as well as in the 200 and 800. Berge has top-five seeds in three jumping events, including a tie for the best high jump. Baesler, the state cross country meet winner last fall, has top-three seeds in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200.
"They're definitely high-quality athletes,'' Eckart said.
Points on paper are skewed in one way.
Athletes are limited to four events at state. Hillsboro-CV has fastest times in the 4x400 and 4x800 relays and the fourth-fastest in the 4x200. Wright and Baesler ran legs on all three relays; that likely won't happen at state because of entry limitations.
"That's where the depth of our team comes into play,'' Eckart said. "We have kids who haven't qualified individually for state yet. But they are good athletes who can step in and help those relays.''
No other team has as many as 55 points on paper now.
