Special to the HT
RANGELY | Just 24 hours after a heavy snowstorm swept through the region, the Rangely High School track and field team arrived Saturday to clear skies and a cleared track at the Eagle Valley Invite — and made the most of it.
The Panthers turned in multiple podium finishes and a long list of personal records.
The Lady Panthers led the way in throwing and jumping events.
Taylor Fouch won the shot put with a throw of 37 feet, 5 inches, and placed eighth in discus (81-2). Abrianna Tapia finished third in shot put (30-6.75) and fourth in discus (87-6).
Rangely swept the top two spots in pole vault. Kirra Jo Benson won with a personal-best 8-3, while Teagan Behunin also cleared 8-3 to take second. Behunin added an eighth-place finish in the 100 meters (13.57 seconds).
Other notable performances included:
• Benson set a personal record in the 800 meters (2:54.96) and cleared 4-3 in high jump.
• Taya Wren ran 1:03.28 in the 400.
• Tylee Fielder recorded a PR in long jump (13-4.75).
• Courtney Casto set a PR in the 400 (1:17.88) and debuted in the 200 (34.02).
• Faith Prieto posted a PR in the 400 (1:19.11).
• Angel Head set a PR in the 800 (3:20.28), while Haiden Garcia also competed in the event.
• Emily Brattin returned from injury with a PR in the 200 (33.63).
• Isabella Cox and Makenzie Hill each set PRs in shot put and discus.
• Aubrey Yates improved her triple jump by a foot with a PR of 27-11.75.
The Panthers showed depth in sprints and field events.
Chase Cochrane led the field athletes with two PRs, placing third in discus (131-10) and seventh in shot put (39-11.75). Cutler Mergelman took fourth in shot put (41-2.50).
On the track, Tavan Morgan posted PRs in both the 200 (24.91) and 400 (54.61), finishing fourth in the 400. Logan Peterson placed fifth in long jump (18-11.5) and ran 12.08 in the 100.
• Chance Allred placed seventh in the 800 with a PR of 2:08.90.
• Christian Fortunato took eighth in long jump (18-5.25) and set a PR in the 200 (25.78).
• Gage Nielsen recorded PRs in pole vault (8-6) and the 3,200 (12:19.34).
• Jaren Blankenship placed ninth in shot put with a PR (37-10.25).
• Easton Peterson set PRs in pole vault (9-0) and the 200 (26.49).
• Davan Lucero recorded a PR in the 200 (25.08).
Rangely also found success in relay events, highlighted by a coed 4×400 relay team of Chance Allred, Tylee Fielder, Taya Wren and Joseph Valdez, which placed second in 4:04.42.
Other relay results:
• Girls 4×100 (Fielder, Yates, Bollinger, Behunin): 54.69.
• Girls 4×400 (Benson, Bollinger, Yates, Behunin): 4:36.26.
• Girls 4×800 (Garcia, Wren, Prieto, Thayn): 11:53.80.
• Boys 4×400 (Friedrich, Wiley, T. Morgan, N. Petersen): 4:05.90.
Rangely competes Friday at the Phil Wertman Invitational in Grand Junction. Events begin at 8:30 a.m. at Stocker Stadium.
The Panthers brought home multiple PRs and podium fiinishes from the Eagle Valley Invitational track meet last weekend, including a second place finish for the 4×400 coed relay team of Joseph Valdez, Taya Wren, Tylee Fielder and Chance Allred.