Special to the HT
RANGELY | The Rangely Panthers track and field team turned in one of its strongest performances of the season at the 1A/2A Western Slope League meet, competing against a 13-team field that included programs from West Grand to Cedaredge.
Fueled by a surge of personal records and podium finishes, the Panthers boys placed second overall, while the girls secured a solid fifth-place finish.
Highlighting the meet was a new school record in the girls 4×400-meter relay. The quartet of Kira Jo Benson, Aubrey Yates, Taya Wren and Teagan Behunin raced to a first-place finish in 4 minutes, 11.05 seconds, setting a new benchmark for the program.
Rangely athletes claimed multiple individual titles. Kacey Allred won the pole vault at 11 feet, 7 inches, while Taylor Fouch captured first in the shot put (34-7.25) and added a personal-best throw in discus (91-7). Behunin also topped the podium in pole vault (9-3) and added third-place finishes in the long jump (15-2) and 100-meter dash (13.23).
On the boys side, Joseph Valdez placed third in the 400-meter dash with a personal-best 51.53 seconds. Tavan Morgan earned third in the 800-meter run (2:03.20 PR) and added a sixth-place finish in the 1,600. Chase Cochrane finished third in discus (122-10), while Logan Peterson took third in long jump (19-11) and fifth in the 100-meter dash with a PR of 11.64.
Nathan Petersen added a pair of top-six finishes, placing third in pole vault (10-1 PR) and sixth in the 300-meter hurdles (45.17 PR).
The Panthers’ depth showed across the field and track events, with numerous top-10 finishes and personal records.
In the field events, Cutler Mergelman placed fourth in shot put (41-11), while Aubrianna Tapia took fourth in shot put (30-11) and eighth in discus (89-1). Benson added fourth in pole vault and seventh in high jump, and Landon Bollinger placed fifth in triple jump (37-3) and sixth in high jump.
Additional top-10 finishes came from Natalie Bollinger (fifth, pole vault), Easton Petersen (fifth, pole vault, PR), Jeren Blankenship (eighth, discus), Gage Nielsen (eighth, pole vault, PR), Christian Fortunato (eighth, long jump), Isabella Cox (ninth, shot put) and Davon Lucero (ninth, long jump).
On the track, Chance Allred placed fourth in the 800 (2:06.13), while Kyler Fouts finished eighth in the 1,600 and recorded a PR in the 3,200. Faith Prieto added an eighth-place finish in the 3,200.
Several Panthers also recorded personal-best performances, including Titus Friedrich (800), Nielsen (800 and 1,600), Rylee Robie (800), Angel Head (1,600), Tylee Fielder (long jump), and Auron Sheley (shot put and discus).
Rangely’s relay teams also delivered strong results. The boys 4×800 relay team of Chance Allred, Friedrich, Morgan and Valdez claimed first place in 8:43.25. The 4×200 team placed fourth (1:36.03), and the 4×400 team finished fifth (3:43.88).
The Panthers will travel to Grand Valley this Saturday for their final regular-season meet before postseason competition begins.
Rangely’s boys’ relay teams delivered strong finishes at the league meet.
The Panther quartet of Kira Jo Benson, Aubrey Yates, Taya Wren and Teagan Behunin (not in order) set a new school record in the 4×400 relay at the league meet.
