Tiger middle schoolers gearing up for track-and-field season

Nevada Middle School eighth-grader ] Laci Patchin puts in work on her long jump skills, as NMS assistant coach Shaun Gray looks on during Friday’s practice at Larry Testman Track.

Matt Resnick | Daily Mail

The Nevada Middle School track-and-field season is just around the corner, with their season-opener taking place Monday, March 26 at the Butler Junior High Invitational. The NMS track-and-field team, guided by veteran head coach Marsha Hooper, is slated to host a pair of invitational meets this spring, scheduled for April 12 and April 26 at Larry Testman Track. The April 12 annual invitational features a total of nine schools,including all three Joplin middle schools. “It’s a chance for our kids to have a pre-conference tune-up,” said Hooper of the annual NMS meet. “It also gives our tracksters, who are not going to the conference meet, an opportunity to compete one more time.”

Tiger eighth-grader Kartman Highley participates in the long jump, near the end of Friday practice at Larry Testman Track.

Matt Resnick | Daily Mail