RANGELY | This past weekend was the wrap of yet another track and field season. All of the state’s strongest throwers, biggest jumpers and fastest runners piled into Jeffco Stadium for the biggest state championship competition of all Colorado high school sports, as each classification, 1A through 5A, gathered to compete at the same venue over the course of three days. The Rangely Panthers took 17 competitors to the meet, the most athletes for the team in many years.
The Colorado 2A State Track and Field Championships started early Thursday, and if the first event for the Panthers was a predictor for how the rest of the weekend would go, then the team was looking at a very, very good weekend. Kenyon Cochrane, senior thrower committed to continue his track and field career next year at Colorado Mesa University, started the meet with his favorite event: discus. Kenyon’s very first throw put him in the lead and he never looked back. Kenyon secured his first ever state title in the discus with a throw of 157-03.
Thrilled with Kenyon’s state championship, his teammates took that energy and applied it to the rest of Thursday’s afternoon events. The girls’ SMR made up of Ryann Mergelman, Aubrianna Tapia, Ashlynn Ducey and Addison Scott ran a time of 1:58.60, finishing in 14th place. Just 90 minutes later, Addison Scott, Tylee Fielder, Emma Smith and Miah Wren lined up for the girls’ 4x200m, finishing in a time of 1:56.06 for 16th place.
The boys’ 4x800m team of Clay Allred, James Talbot, Juston Allred and Andrew Dorris, which holds the school record, got out hard and hung on to a really tough field. The team crossed the line in 8:35.24 to finish in seventh place and earn a spot on the podium. Whilst the boys’ relay was running, Annika Cantrell began her competition in the high jump. Annika ended up clearing 4-10 and shared a fifth place finish with two other athletes.
Ashlynn Ducey and James Talbot, two sophomores for the Panthers who have each had their fair share of success this track season, rounded the day out for the team. Ashlynn secured a spot in the girls’ finals in both the 200-meter and 400-meter, with times of 26.82 and 1:01.27, respectively. In between her events, James Talbot stepped on the track for the boys’ 3,200-meter, an event in which he holds the school record. James ran hard and secured his second seventh place medal of the day, finishing in a time of 10:13.01.
“The first day was really such a thrill,” said head coach Beth Scoggins. “Kenyon got the ball rolling for us in a big way with his state championship. I am so, so happy for him and really proud of everyone’s performances today.”
After a long day of competition on Thursday, the Panthers found themselves back at the state venue on Friday for Kenyon Cochrane’s shot put. Dealing with some wet and uncomfortable conditions, Kenyon didn’t have his best day and fouled on his first three throws. Despite an unpleasant morning in the shot put, no one will ever be able to take away his state championship in the discus.
The girls’s discus was next up for the Panthers, in which seniors Kyrah Phelps and Rylee Allred competed. Kyrah, who has been excellent in the discus all year, threw 109-00 to take home the 8th place medal. Rylee Allred moved well up the rankings and finished in 15th after throwing 98-11.
Andrew Dorris, a senior set to run for Garden City Community College next year, was the first athlete to compete Friday afternoon, racing in a very competitive boys’ 800-meter. Andrew Dorris put himself right in the mix of things from the get go, pushing himself to a new personal best of 2:00.56 and an eighth place finish. After a few hours of rest, Andrew Dorris was joined by his twin brother, Anthony Dorris, and teammates James Talbot and Justin Allred for the boys’ 4×400 prelims, in which they secured a spot in the finals with their time of 3:35.80. The girls’ 4×400 of Addison Scott, Ryann Mergelman, Tylee Fielder and Ashlynn Ducey just missed a spot in the finals, placing 10th with a time of 4:22.55.
As Friday afternoon events took place, Miah Wren and Kastyn Dembowski got themselves ready for the girls’ pole vault, an event in which the Panthers actually have to go to Meeker once a week to train for since they don’t have the equipment for pole vault in Rangely. Despite being relatively new to the event and likely not getting as many repetitions as other athletes, the Panther duo competed well in the event. Miah Wren placed 11th after clearing 8-01 and Kastyn Dembowski was 17th with a clearance of 7-07.
“Friday was another really great day for us. As a team, we grabbed a few more medals, set some personal records, and qualified for the finals. Davin Boydstun has done such an amazing job with our throwers, who have done exceptionally well in the discus this weekend. I’m also really grateful for all the help that Dana Pollack brings to our pole vaulters, Colt Allred and his work with our jumpers, and the encouragement and guidance that Dominic Compoz gives to our runners,” said head coach Beth Scoggins.
Saturday morning marked the last day of track and field for high school in Colorado. A day in which the competition is at its highest, as every event that competes is a final, but it also comes at the price of having to compete hard for the two days leading up. Athletes are always tired and sore, but they all still face the final test of just how much each individual and team can give for every step they run, throw they heave, and jump they leap.
Ashlynn Ducey got things rolling for the Panthers on Saturday in the girls’ 400. Ashlynn finished the one lap final in school record fashion, clocking in at 1:00.19 and earning the sixth place spot on the podium. With just under two hours of rest, Ashlynn Ducey returned to the track for her sixth and final race of the weekend, the girls’ 200. Ashlynn gave her all and took home yet another state medal, finishing in ninth place with a time of 27.33.
As Ashlynn was finishing up her events, Kyrah Phelps and Addison Scott prepared for and competed in their respective field events. Kyrah Phelps threw one last time for the Panthers, competing in the girls’ shot put and taking 15th with a throw of 31-03.25. Addison Scott, a freshman competing in her first ever individual event at the state championships, jumped 13-04.5 in the girls’ long jump for 17th place.
James Talbot and Andrew Dorris stepped onto the track next for the Panthers for their final individual races of the weekend, likely not knowing that they would be competing in one of the fastest and most competitive 2A boys’ 1,600-meter finals ever. From the gun, the pace pushed hard, but neither James or Andrew seemed to worry. James pushed himself to his limits, crushing his own school record by more than 9 seconds and placing third with a time of 4:24.73. Andrew likewise gave his all and pushed himself to yet another personal best and a 10th place finish in 4:37.15.
The duo of James Talbot and Andrew Dorris, who have been tearing up the track together in everything from the 400 and up this year, didn’t have too long to rest after their 1,600, however, before they were called back to the track for the 4×400 finals. Joined again by Anthony Dorris and Justin Allred, the boys’ relay team finished the day, and the meet, off for the Panthers with one more medal as they finished in 3:40.19 for ninth place.
“The final day of the state track meet is always so exciting. Everyone is always giving their all and I couldn’t be more proud of my team,” said Beth Scoggins. “I really love this team. I wish we could get all of the seniors back for another year, but I am so excited for them and their futures. They all have made me, their families, and this town so very proud. I am already looking forward to next year and seeing just how much more some of these younger athletes improve. James and Ashlynn ran tremendously this weekend, and I truly believe that if they keep working as hard as they do, that they will be able to join Kenyon Cochrane as state champions.”
The Rangely Panthers had an excellent weekend at the state championships. A state champion was crowned, medals were won in 10 different events, school records were broken, personal bests were set, and memories were made. The girls’ team scored 11 points to tie for 21st place and the boys’ team scored 26 points to finish 14th.
The Panthers track and field team would like to thank the transportation department for all the safe travels throughout the season, the Meeker Cowboy track and field team for sharing and helping coach pole vault, all of the wonderful volunteers who helped at their home meet, the parents who helped all season long, the Rangely Panther Boosters, and so many more who made this season both possible and highly successful.
Special to the Herald Times
