By Patrick Scoggins
Special to the Herald Times
RANGELY | The Rangely Panther track team played host Saturday, April 21, as 11 teams circled the track. The Panthers were determined to take advantage of the great weather and home venues as they came up with season bests in all but 11 of the 45 events they competed in.
RaeLynn Norman led the lady Panthers on the track, continuing to get better with every race. Norman finished sixth in the 800-meter run (2:51.58), third in the 1,600-meter run (6:03.17), and third in the 3,200-meter run (13:29.90), with all races becoming new season best times. Chloe Filfred joined Norman with season bests in the 800 and 1,600 runs with times of 3:10.67 and 7:13.72, respectively.
The lady Panther throwers, led by Makenze Cochrane and Miekka Peck, also found lots of success in both rings. Cochrane finished third in the shot put with a season best heave of 32 feet 0.5 inches and was sixth in the discus. Peck threw the discus 95-1 for a season best and fourth place finish, as well as finishing ninth in the shot put. Breanna Davis set season best records in both shot put and discus, finishing fourth and 12th, respectively. Kaylee Mecham made her varsity debut for the season, taking 12th in shot put and 21st in discus. Anna Forbes took 11th in discus as well as finishing 15th in the shot put. Elena Forbes threw a great season best of 81-3 in the discus to finish eighth and 16th in the shot put. Cochrane, Peck, Anna and Elena Forbes, and Davis all ran the 100-meter dash as well, finishing 11th, 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th, respectively.
On the boys’ side, Austin Ficken continued to rack up points in the throwing rings. Ficken finished first in discus (134-2), and second in shot put (40-4.5). Cameron Filfred threw a season best 104-7 in the discus for fifth place as well as finishing ninth in the shot put with another season best of 34-7. Riley Boydstun took sixth in the shot put and eighth in discus. Boydstun also ran a season best 13.72 in the 100 dash. Brady Bertoch gained two new season bests as he placed 18th in discus and 16th in shot put.
Phillip Noyes and Gabe Polley continued to contribute to the Panther track and field team, as Noyes took 16th in the discus and Polley finished 19th. Noyes competed in the 100 dash, high jump and long jump as well, finishing his day with four season bests. Polley also cleared a season best in the high jump as well as running a 27.53 in the 200-meter dash. Brennan Noyes ran a 13.19 100 dash and cleared 5-10.5 in the high jump, finishing third. Senior Brennan Noyes and Polley also helped Marshall Webber and Patrick Scoggins in a season best 4:02.99 in the 4×400-meter relay.
Webber and Scoggins took full advantage of the great weather and competition they were given, having their best track meet of the season. Webber flew across the 110-meter high hurdles, winning solidly with a new personal best of 17.41. Webber remained focused and strong throughout the day as he won the 300-meter hurdles as well, blowing away his competition with a time of 44.38. Scoggins stuck to the longer races, winning both the 1,600 and 800 runs. During the 1,600, Scoggins ran a 4:35.14, taking down a six year old school record formerly held by his older brother William Scoggins. Scoggins then ran a 2A state leading mark of 1:57.46 in the 800 run.
The Panthers took care of business at home and look to continue their success as the season winds down. Rangely will be traveling to Craig for the Clint Wells Invitational this weekend.
