I can fly—Italy Track & Fielders work together to get results

Image: Italy sophomore, Raheem Walker, proves “I” can fly — Italy sophomore, Raheem Walker, finishes in 1st place during the 100 meter hurdles during the district track meet hosted by Rio Vista High School this past Wednesday. Walker finished at the top of the pack in all four events in which he competed.

Italy sophomore, Raheem Walker, proves “I” can fly — Italy sophomore, Raheem Walker, finishes in 1st place during the 100 meter hurdles during the district track meet hosted by Rio Vista High School this past Wednesday. Walker finished at the top of the pack in all four events in which he competed. (Barry Byers)

Image: Up and over — Taylor Turner and Bailey Bumpus finish in 3rd and 4th place while teammate, Imke Klindworth, finishes in 5th place during the JV girls 100 meter hurdles.

Up and over — Taylor Turner and Bailey Bumpus finish in 3rd and 4th place while teammate, Imke Klindworth, finishes in 5th place during the JV girls 100 meter hurdles. (Barry Byers)

Image: Holden goes for it — Italy junior, Jase Holden, gives the 110 meter hurdles a try.

Holden goes for it — Italy junior, Jase Holden, gives the 110 meter hurdles a try. (Barry Byers)

Image: The exchange — Hayden Wood hands the baton to Tony Wooldridge during the JV boys 400 meter relay. Wood and Wooldridge, along with teammates, Justin Wood and [Name Withheld], finished in 6th place.

The exchange — Hayden Wood hands the baton to Tony Wooldridge during the JV boys 400 meter relay. Wood and Wooldridge, along with teammates, Justin Wood and [Name Withheld], finished in 6th place. (Barry Byers)

Image: Sticking together — Italy’s Jalarnce Jamal Lewis prepares to hand the baton to Chase Hamilton during the varsity boys 400 meter relay. Lewis and Hamilton, along with teammates, Jasenio Anderson and Heath Clemons, finished in 5th place.

Sticking together — Italy’s Jalarnce Jamal Lewis prepares to hand the baton to Chase Hamilton during the varsity boys 400 meter relay. Lewis and Hamilton, along with teammates, Jasenio Anderson and Heath Clemons, finished in 5th place. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kaitlyn Rossa — Italy’s, Kaitlyn Rossa, charges off the line to begin the varsity girls 800 meter run.

Kaitlyn Rossa — Italy’s, Kaitlyn Rossa, charges off the line to begin the varsity girls 800 meter run. (Barry Byers)

Image: Finishing strong — Italy’s, Cody Medrano, muscles his way to a 1st place finish in the JV boys 800 meter run.

Finishing strong — Italy’s, Cody Medrano, muscles his way to a 1st place finish in the JV boys 800 meter run. (Barry Byers)

Image: Anna Viers — Anna Viers sports the Italy 2011 Gladiators Track & Field T-shirt in Rio Vista.

Anna Viers — Anna Viers sports the Italy 2011 Gladiators Track & Field T-shirt in Rio Vista. (Barry Byers)

Image: Working together — Breyanna Beets finishes in 1st place and teammate, Felicia Little, finishes in 6th place during the 800 meter run.

Working together — Breyanna Beets finishes in 1st place and teammate, Felicia Little, finishes in 6th place during the 800 meter run. (Barry Byers)

Image: Slicing air — Hayden Wood places 3rd for Italy’s JV boys during the 100 meter dash.

Slicing air — Hayden Wood places 3rd for Italy’s JV boys during the 100 meter dash. (Barry Byers)

Image: Like the wind — Italy’s, Jameka Copeland, finishes in 1st place, Ryisha Copeland finishes in 2nd place and Ashley Harper finishes in 8th place during the JV girls 100 meter dash.

Like the wind — Italy’s, Jameka Copeland, finishes in 1st place, Ryisha Copeland finishes in 2nd place and Ashley Harper finishes in 8th place during the JV girls 100 meter dash. (Barry Byers)

Image: Tony Wooldridge — Tony Wooldridge is calm, cool and collected before his race.

Tony Wooldridge — Tony Wooldridge is calm, cool and collected before his race. (Barry Byers)

Image: Mike and Jalarnce — Mike Clark receives block holding assistance from Jalarnce Jamal Lewis.

Mike and Jalarnce — Mike Clark receives block holding assistance from Jalarnce Jamal Lewis. (Barry Byers)

Image: Anna’s on the run — Anna Viers runs the first leg of the Italy JV girls 400 meter relay team.

Anna’s on the run — Anna Viers runs the first leg of the Italy JV girls 400 meter relay team. (Barry Byers)

Image: Sierra Harris — Sierra Harris runs the second leg of the Italy JV girls 400 meter relay team. Harris, Anna Viers, Paola Mata and Jameka Copeland finished the event in 1st place.

Sierra Harris — Sierra Harris runs the second leg of the Italy JV girls 400 meter relay team. Harris, Anna Viers, Paola Mata and Jameka Copeland finished the event in 1st place. (Barry Byers)

Image: Almost there — Jasenio Anderson runs the final leg for the Italy Varsity boys’ 400 meter relay.

Almost there — Jasenio Anderson runs the final leg for the Italy Varsity boys’ 400 meter relay. (Barry Byers)

Image: Intensity — Courtney Russell gets set to run the JV girls 400 meter dash for the Lady Gladiators.

Intensity — Courtney Russell gets set to run the JV girls 400 meter dash for the Lady Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Image: Brandon and Zack — Brandon Souder and Zackery Boykin help keep their teammates pumped up.

Brandon and Zack — Brandon Souder and Zackery Boykin help keep their teammates pumped up. (Barry Byers)

Image: Imke doing her part — Italy’s Imke Klindworth finishes in 5th place during the 1600 meter run.

Imke doing her part — Italy’s Imke Klindworth finishes in 5th place during the 1600 meter run. (Barry Byers)

Image: Inner strength — Despite a sore knee, Kaitlyn Rossa (second from the left) pushes herself to compete in the 1600 meter run.

Inner strength — Despite a sore knee, Kaitlyn Rossa (second from the left) pushes herself to compete in the 1600 meter run. (Barry Byers)

Image: Battle scars — Bailey Bumpus, with the miniature ice bag, tries to soothe her skinned knees she received before and after one of her races while teammate Kaitlyn Rossa gets to use the really big ice bag on her knees.

Battle scars — Bailey Bumpus, with the miniature ice bag, tries to soothe her skinned knees she received before and after one of her races while teammate Kaitlyn Rossa gets to use the really big ice bag on her knees. (Barry Byers)

Image: Are you ready? — Keep an eye on Italy Track & Field because great things are in store both the Lady Gladiators and Gladiators.

Are you ready? — Keep an eye on Italy Track & Field because great things are in store both the Lady Gladiators and Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Image: Devonta Simmons — Devonta Simmons wears his Gladiator colors well.

Devonta Simmons — Devonta Simmons wears his Gladiator colors well. (Barry Byers)

Image: Proud crowd — Imke Klindworth, Kaytlyn Bales, Drenda Burk, Adrian Reed, Breyanna Beets, Sierra Harris, Anna Viers, Paul Harris and Omar Estrada at top, are proud to be representing Italy at the district track meet in Rio Vista.

Proud crowd — Imke Klindworth, Kaytlyn Bales, Drenda Burk, Adrian Reed, Breyanna Beets, Sierra Harris, Anna Viers, Paul Harris and Omar Estrada at top, are proud to be representing Italy at the district track meet in Rio Vista. (Barry Byers)

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