RANGELY | The track and field season is just about over for Rangely and the rest of the state as teams competed in their respective league championships this past weekend. Making the trip to Grand Junction to run, jump, and throw at Stocker Stadium, the Panthers made the most of a championship setting as they all competed in their largest track meet of the season. The lady Panthers once again managed to impress, finishing the weekend as the 1A/2A Western Slope League Team runner-ups.
Mary Scoggins led the charge for the girls’ team, taking second place in the long jump (15 feet 6.5 inches), triple jump (34-1), and 800-meter run (2:31.20), as well as anchoring the second place 800-meter sprint medley relay to 1:59.21. Maya Mercado ran a leg of the runner-up sprint medley relay as well as a leg on the 4×200-meter relay that ran a time of 2:02.11. Mercado then capped her weekend off by claiming the league crown in the high jump after clearing 4-9. Dixie Rhea joined Mercado as a league champion, winning the 100-meter in 12.87.
Emma Smith stepped up big as she ran a personal best 14.81 in the 100 to go with solid legs in both the 4×200 relay and sprint medley. Smith also ran the 200-meter (31.77). Hayley Burr was the fourth member of each relay team to go with a fourth and fifth place finish in the 300-meter hurdles (51.39) and 100 hurdles (18.40), respectively. Kyrah Phelps also grabbed a few points for the girls as she was sixth in the discus (87-7) and seventh in the shot put (27-2).
Also competing for the girls was Rylee Allred, who threw the discus (fifth, 87-10) and shot put (24-7); Annika Cantrell in the 200 (32.85), high jump (fifth, 4-5), and 4×200 relay; Brooke Filfred in the shot put (22-8); and Mackenzie Manchester, who ran the 100 (15.38) and threw the discus (76-8).
MATT SCOGGINS PHOTO
Kenyon Cochrane was the lone champion on the boys’ side, winning the discus with a throw of 140-9. Cochrane also competed in the high jump (fifth, 5-5), shot put (35-5), and 200 (26.02). Andrew Dorris helped the Panthers grab a handful of points as he finished fifth in both of his individual events (800, 2:11.57; and 1,600-meter, 5:02.21) to go along with helping both the 4×400-meter and 4×800-meter relays finish fourth. Colton Noel kept himself rather busy running on the track as well, taking third in the 3,200-meter (11:57.00) as he also ran the 1,600-meter (5:25.10), 800 (2:28.82), and 4×800 relay.
Timothy Scoggins was a part of both relay teams to go along with solid performances in the high jump (fifth, 5-5) and shot put (37-6.5). Justin Allred helped out in the 4×800 relay as he then also competed in the 800 (2:47.55), discus (65-10), and long jump (13-1). Anthony Dorris ran the 400-meter dash in 1:01.57 and ran another lap around the track as a member of the 4×400 relay.Brent Cantrell and Kevin Wren joined the team for the first time following the baseball season and competed well. Cantrell threw the shot put (22-11) and discus (76-11) as well as ran the 200 (33.12). Wren competed in the long jump (14-3), triple jump (30-0.5), and 4×400 relay.
MATT SCOGGINS PHOTO
“It was fun seeing how the kids stood up to the challenge of competing in a bigger, championship environment. We had several kids set new PR’s and we’ve got some really big goals for the remainder of the season,” said coach Beth Scoggins. The Panthers had a last chance meet to try and secure/qualify for the state championships this Tuesday, June 15 in Rangely at the Rangely Panther Dusk Meet. The team was excited to compete at home where they are comfortable and confident on their own track, pits, and rings. There are currently seven athletes with state qualifying marks, but the Panthers hoped to add a couple more to that group after Tuesday’s events.
Special to the Herald Times