RHS track competes twice in GJ

RANGELY — The Panther track and field team traveled to Grand Junction’s Stocker Stadium on Saturday and Monday. The Frank Woodburn Invitational was held on Saturday and the Ned Pollert Freshman/Sophomore Meet was on Monday.
Some of the outstanding performances came on the girls side.
The girls set 10 season performances of the 14 events that they’ve competed in this season. Emily Peterson set the new 100-meter mark at 13.97 on Monday. Audrey Hogan set the Panther standard in the 400- (1:05.89), 800- (2:29.55) and 1,600-meter (5:39.09) runs.
On Monday, Hogan again went head to head with Johanna Reed of Paonia in the 1600 and the race was a carbon copy of the race at state last year. Hogan sprinted past her in the last 80 meters and pulled away. Hogan was second at state in that event last year and needs to set her sights on the next girl, last year’s champion, who is also a runner from our region.
Hogan’s 1600 effort was also a state qualifying time; however, the meet was not a qualifying meet. Hogan also set the sophomore class records in both the 800 and 1600 races.
Victoria Phelan took top performance honors in the 100- (19.43) and 300-meter (51.86) hurdles. Her most amazing performance; however, came in the long jump where she jumped 15-1 and beat the freshman class record by more than a foot. This jump is also just half an inch from the state qualifying standard.
Lacie Kinney set the new standard in the shot put at 27- 4 1/2 and Marie Morton set the discus standard at 81-3. Morton has been rising each week and has added 23 feet in the discus above the past two weeks. We will all need to duck and cover when she figures out how to throw the thing.
The boys set top performances in nine of their 17 events.
Mark Hinaman ran his career best in the 400-meter dash at 54.24. He just had to beat Michael Morton who had run his best (54.52) in the previous heat. Hopefully, Michael will run a 52 this week.
Hyrum Byers ran like a man possessed. He set top performance in the 800- (2:21.12), 1,600- (5:07.13) and 3,200-meter (12:21.40) runs all in the same meet. Two of these races were also his personal best efforts. Byers is taking advantage of the training offered by Dr. Coach Luke Geer and his pacing wheel. Dr. Geer has issued the challenge and Byers is rising to it.
Logan Osborne ran and excellent 300-meter hurdles race and set the team and his own standard at 45.85.
In the triple jump, Kanden Brady went 39-2 1/4 in his last effort in finals and found his form on that jump. If his technique holds into future meets, this guy will wow some folks. Nathan Pearce did the same in the shot put by throwing 39-6 and found his technique.
The relays also performed well by setting new Panther 2008 standards in the girls sprint medley, the boys 800- and 1,600-meter relays. I’m proud of our team. Be sure to come out and see them this coming Tuesday at the home track starting at 4 p.m.