RANGELY — The Panther Track and Field team is gearing up for the close of the season. The regional meet is this Friday and Saturday followed by the state meet the following week. The Panthers are hoping to qualify several to the state but at this time we have no pre-qualifiers. To advance, athletes must finish in the top three at the regional meet or reach the qualifying time or distance.
Rangely competed at Kremmling for the league meet on Saturday. The girls scored 34 points for an eighth place finish and the boys scored 103 points for fourth place. The boys were just two points out of second place. Paonia won both sides with 168 points in the girls’ competition and 162 in the boys’.
The top two finishers at the league meet are considered All-Conference First Team and honorable mention respectively. Earning All-Conference First Team honors for Rangely were Audrey Hogan and Kanden Brady. Audrey won both the 800-meter run (2:27.66) and the 1,600-meter run (5:37.05) events with her best times of the season. Audrey holds our school records in both of these events and we’re hoping that she can surpass these records at the Region and then smash them again at the state meet. Audrey finished in fourth at state for the past two years in the 800 and second at state during her freshman year in the 1,600. Audrey will meet Erin Kelly from Crested Butte this weekend in the 1,600-meter. Erin is one of just two 2A girls pre-qualified for state in this event. There are no 2A girls pre-qualified in the 800-meter run so each of these races seem to be up for grabs. Kanden Brady was also named to the All-Conference team by winning the long jump with a leap of 19-9. Kanden has jumped more than 20-0 twice this season and will need a great jump at the regional meet to qualify. He was also honorable mention in the triple jump with a 40-9 jump and a second-place finish. Kanden competed at the state meet last year in both these events and finished in seventh in the long jump. We’re hoping that he is able to get back to the meet and have another chance to earn some hardware.
Two other Panther athletes received honorable mention recognition. Marie Morton finished in second place in the discus with a throw of 96-1 3/4. This added six feet to Marie’s previous best, which is a tremendous feat. Marie also jumped her best in the triple jump (28-0), matched her best in the high jump (4-6), and threw near her best in the shot put (31-10 1/2).
It was an incredible day for this young lady. Logan Osborne also earned honorable mention with a second-place finish in the 300-meter hurdles. Logan matched his best time in this event and looks primed to make a strong bid to make the state meet.
Other athletes to watch at the regional meet are Victoria Phelan in the hurdles and horizontal jumps, Nathan Pearce in the throws, Hyrum Byers in the distance races, Michael Morton in the 400 and jumps, Levin Boulger in the 110 hurdles, and a couple of the boys’ relay teams. The weather is supposed to be beautiful so come on down to Grand Junction and support your Panther track and field team.
By Mark Jansen
