Special to the HT
RANGELY | Rangely High School’s track and field team capped a busy two-meet weekend with competitions in Olathe on April 23 and in Craig on April 24, battling cool temperatures and gusty winds that affected several events.
Wind conditions, particularly in Craig, resulted in multiple marks being wind-aided and therefore ineligible for state qualification. Coaches said the conditions offered a preview of the unpredictable weather athletes could face at the state meet.
Despite the elements, Rangely athletes recorded numerous personal records and top finishes across all grade levels.
Logan Peterson led the seniors with a second-place finish in the long jump (20 feet, 4.75 inches). Joseph Valdez placed second in the 400-meter dash (52.33 seconds) and third in the 800-meter run (2:09.61).
Abrianna Tapia competed in both the shot put and discus at each meet, setting a personal record in the discus (89-10) to place ninth. She also placed second and fourth in the shot put, with a top throw of 31-5.
Jeren Blankenship placed seventh in the shot put with a personal-best throw of 38-8, and Tylee Fielder finished eighth in the long jump (13-3.75).
Taya Wren won the 3,200-meter run, setting a school record and personal best of 11:14.02. She also took fourth in the 400-meter dash (1:04.70).
Kacey Allred ran a season-best 26.31 in the 200-meter dash, set a personal record in the high jump (5-5) and recorded a long jump of 17-0.
Christian Fortunato set a personal record in the 200 (24.78) and placed fifth in the long jump (17-3.25). Davon Lucero posted personal records in both the 200 (24.48) and 400 (57.39).
Courtney Casto added a personal-best 32.84 in the 200.
Taylor Fouch won the shot put at both meets with a personal record of 36-7 and added a discus PR of 86-8. Cutler Mergleman placed fifth in the shot put at both meets, with a best throw of 42-8.
Kyler Fouts placed fourth in the 3,200 (11:29.55), while Tavan Morgan finished fifth in the 800 (2:15.06) and eighth in the 1,600 (5:13.01).
Chance Allred placed eighth in the triple jump (35-7) and ran a strong 800, including a 2:09.47 performance. Kira Jo Benson set personal records in the 100 (14.85) and 400 (1:04.59), and placed seventh in the high jump (4-7).
Isabella Cox recorded a shot put PR of 27-10 (10th) and a top discus mark of 73-5. Additional PRs came from Titus Friedrich in the 800 (2:20.63), Haiden Garcia in the 400 (1:12.00) and 800 (2:46.96), Angel Head in the 800 (3:11.37), Rachel Larsen in the 800 (3:34.88), and Faith Prieto in the 3,200 (15:15.54), where she placed fifth.
Teagan Behunin placed second in the 100 (13.14) and eighth in the 200 (28.43), and took third in the long jump (15-4.5). Aubrey Yates placed fifth in the triple jump with a personal record of 29-0.25.
Antonio Prieto set a personal record in the 800 (2:41.13), and Rylee Robie added a PR in the 200 (31.46).
The girls 4×800 relay team of Benson, Garcia, Natalie Bollinger and Wren placed second. The 4×200 team (Fielder, Yates, Benson, Behunin) finished fourth in 1:53.87, while the 4×400 team placed fifth. The 4×100 relay ran 55.37.
For the boys, the 4×400 relay team of Kacey Allred, Peterson, Morgan and Valdez placed fourth in 3:40.55. The 4×200 team (Fortunato, Lucero, Peterson, Valdez) finished eighth in 1:38.30.
With the regular season winding down, Rangely will compete at the league meet May 1-2 at Coal Ridge High School against 12 other Class 2A teams. Coaches expect the Panthers to contend for multiple first-place finishes as they prepare for postseason competition.
Rangely High School freshman Teagan Behunin competes in the long jump at the Clint Wells Invitational, where she placed fourth with a jump of 13 feet, 11 inches. JARED HENDERSON PHOTO