KHS track and field enjoy busy week on road

Strong performances in Evanston, Pinedale, Riverton

Don Cogger, Gazette Sports Editor
Posted 5/3/23

The Kemmerer High School track and field teams enjoyed their busiest four-day road stretch of the season last week, and the weather finally decided to cooperate, providing optimal conditions for meets at Evanston, Pinedale and Riverton.

The road swing began Wednesday with the Rick and Wendy Schuler Invitational in Evanston, the first track and field meet held at the newly-renovated Kay Fackrell Stadium. The teams then traveled to Pinedale Friday for the Mountain Man Invitational, with the Lady Rangers finishing fourth as a team, while the Rangers finished sixth.

The KHS track and field teams ended the weekend Saturday at the Roy Peck Invitational in Riverton, with the Lady Rangers once again placing fourth, while the Rangers finished fifth.

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KHS track and field enjoy busy week on road

Strong performances in Evanston, Pinedale, Riverton

Posted

The Kemmerer High School track and field teams enjoyed their busiest four-day road stretch of the season last week, and the weather finally decided to cooperate, providing optimal conditions for meets at Evanston, Pinedale and Riverton.

The road swing began Wednesday with the Rick and Wendy Schuler Invitational in Evanston, the first track and field meet held at the newly-renovated Kay Fackrell Stadium. The teams then traveled to Pinedale Friday for the Mountain Man Invitational, with the Lady Rangers finishing fourth as a team, while the Rangers finished sixth.

The KHS track and field teams ended the weekend Saturday at the Roy Peck Invitational in Riverton, with the Lady Rangers once again placing fourth, while the Rangers finished fifth.

“Things went really well for us,” said KHS head coach Phil Thatcher. “We started Wednesday in Evanston, and their new facility there is so nice – the kids did a great job over there. A lot of our younger kids are really starting to progress over these last few meets, just dropping time like crazy, and it’s always fun to see that.”

Two KHS seniors – Owen Burnett and Keira Heiner – also traveled to Casper Friday to compete in the Wyoming Track Classic, an event that returned this season after a five-year hiatus. Designed to bring together the top track and field athletes from around the state – regardless of classification – only the top eight eight times and marks in the state up to this point in the season are entered in each event.

Burnett won the 3200 meters, posting a time of 9:26.54, while Heiner placed eighth in the 400 meters, with a time of 1:00.46.

“It was the first time ‘d been to that event as a coach, and it was a really cool deal for the athletes,” Thatcher said. “Keira placed eighth and ran a personal best in the 400, and she was right there in the pack. The Sheridan girl [Addie Pendergast] went out and ran a 54.25, and there was no one close to her – that was an outstanding performance. But the rest of the crew were all within three steps of each other, so she was right there with them. Owen won the 3200 going away – wasn’t even close. He was pretty determined, and went out and did a great job.”

Rick and Wendy Schuler Invitational

Wednesday’s Schuler Invitational in Evanston featured spring-like conditions for the first time this season, and the KHS track and field teams took full advantage, turning in some solid performances.

“My big takeaway from the Evanston meet is that our relays are really coming along,” Thatcher said. “Our throwers also did really well in Evanston, with Nadia Runnion qualifying for state in the discus with 102 feet, as well as Laynee Walker breaking the school record again in the pole vault. That’s a great mark.”

The Lady Rangers’ 4x100 relay team of Jolee Swasey, Laynee Walker, Natasha Martinez and Keira Heiner win the event with a time of 52.20, while the 4x400 team of Martinez, Tyler Thatcher, Ella Thatcher and Heiner also finished in the top spot, with a time of 4:26.45.

Swasey, Walker and Heiner also posted second-place finishes in individual events, with Swasey taking silver in the long jump (16 feet, 2 inches), Walker in the pole vault (9 feet) and the 300 hurdles (49.25) and Heiner in the 400 meters (1:03.48).

For the boys, Skyler Rogers finished fifth in the 400 meters (54.35), Bryson McGill was fifth in the high jump (5 feet, 8 inches), Malachi Villarreal placed seventh in the 1600 meters (5:16.13) and Landon Heaps was eighth in the discus (113 feet, 2 inches).

Mountain Man

Invitational

Despite missing two of their top athletes in Owen Burnett and Keira Heiner, the KHS track and field teams did well at Friday’s Mountain Man Invitational in Pinedale, with the Lady Rangers finishing fourth, and the Rangers finishing sixth.

“Besides missing the two that were at the Wyoming Track Classic, we had eight or nine kids that were doing solos at the music festival, so we didn’t have a full team there,” Thatcher explained. “The kids that were there ran great – Laranda Waldner posted her best time of the year in the 800, and Natasha Martinez got back in the mid-15 range in the long jump. If we want to be a top team at state, we need to be solid in the field events, and those girls are starting to hit those marks.”

The two teams combined to win three events, with Lady Ranger Laynee Walker winning the pole vault, clearing a height of 8 feet, 6 inches. For the Rangers, Gabe Platt won the 3200 meters in a time of 16:09.56, while Bryson McGill won the high jump, clearing the bar at 5 feet, 10 inches.

Other notable performances on the girls’ side included Walker in the 100 (2nd, 17.30) and 300 hurdles (2nd, 49.65), Natasha Martinez in the long jump (2nd, 15 feet, 4 inches) and 200 meters (3rd, 28.38), Laranda Waldner in the 800 meters (3rd, 2:51.28) and Nadia Runnion in the discus (5th, 97 feet, 8.5 inches).

For the boys, Skyler Rogers was second in the 400 meters (54.10), Hunter Burnett was third in the 110 hurdles (18.45), Derek Hagler was third in the shot put (36 feet, 9.5 inches), Malachi Villarreal was fourth in the 1600 meters (5:18.35), Colter Krell was seventh in the 300 hurdles (49.02) and Dylan Hagler was eighth in the discus (94 feet, 11.5 inches).

Roy Peck

Invitational

The KHS track and field teams closed out the weekend Saturday at the Roy Peck Invitational in Riverton, with the Lady Rangers placing fourth as a team, and the Rangers placing fifth.

The teams combined to win six events, including individual wins by Jolee Swasey in the long jump (15 feet, 6.5 inches), Owen Burnett in the 3200 meters (9:21.05) and Bryson McGill in the high jump (5 feet, 8 inches).

In the relay events, the girls’ 4x800 relay team of Aralynne Erickson, Tyler Thatcher, Laranda  Waldner and Arianne Dearden finished in the top spot, with a time of 12:10.54. The boys’ 4x400 team of Owen Burnett, Landon Heaps, Skyler Rogers and Mason Riding won the event with a time of 3:39.17, while the 1600 sprint medley team of Rogers, Heaps, Owen Burnett and Hunter Burnett finished first with a time of 3:46.94.

The girls’ 4x100 team of Swasey, Laynee Walker, Natasha Martinez and Keira Heiner finished second, breaking the school record with a blazing time of 50.64.

Other notable performances by the Lady Rangers included Laynee Walker in the pole vault (2nd, 8 feet, 6 inches), Keira Heiner in the 200 meters (4th, 27.47), Aralynne Erickson in the 1600 meters (6:03.95), Arianne Dearden in the 3200 meters (13:59.01) and Nadia Runnion in the shot put (8th, 30 feet, 4.5 inches).

Notable performances by the Rangers included Skyler Rogers in the 400 meters (4th, 54.44), Colter Krell in the 110 hurdles (7th, 18.23), Hunter Burnett in the 300 hurdles (7th, 44.89), Derek Hagler in the shot put (6th, 37 feet, .5 inches) and Dylan Hagler in the discus (9th, 100 feet, 1 inch).

Pinedale Mountain Man Invitational

Girls Results

1. Cokeville 126, 2. Pinedale 122, 3. Big Piney 106.50, 4. Kemmerer 65.50, 5. Jackson Hole 51.50, 6. Mountain View 48, 7. Lyman HS-WY 30, 8. Farson 17.50

100 Meter Dash

4. Laynee Walker 13.60, 7. Natasha Martinez 13.77, 12. Hadlee Wood 14.24

200 Meter Dash

3. Natasha Martinez 28.38, 9. Haddy Plowman 30.18, 16. Laranda Waldner 31.35

400 Meter Run

6. Ella Thatcher 1:07.61, 7. Natasha Martinez 1:08.11, 10. Haddy Plowman 1:08.93, 13. Laranda Waldne 1:11.04

800 Meter Run

3. Laranda Waldner 2:51.28

100 Meter Hurdles

2. Laynee Walker 17.30

300 Meter Hurdles

2. Laynee Walker 49.65

High Jump

6. Haddy Plowman 4’1”

Pole Vault

1. Laynee Walker 8’6”

Long Jump

2. Natasha Martinez 15’4”, 9. Haddy Plowman 13’.5”

Shot Put

7. Kylie Price 28’9”, 10. Hadlee Wood 27’3”, 11. Ella Thatcher 26’2.75”, 15. Nadia Runnion 24’9.25”, 26. Janae Skidmore 20’7”

Discus Throw

5. Nadia Runnion 97’8.5”, 8. Ella Thatcher 80’10”, 13. Hadlee Wood 76’8”, 17. Kylie Price 72’3”

Boys Results

1. Cokeville 110, 2. Pinedale 104, 3. Big Piney 84, 4. Mountain View 83, 5. Jackson Hole 77, 6. Kemmerer 75, 7. Farson 30, 8. Lyman 22

100 Meter Dash

8. Jace Bullington 12.56, 9. Mason Riding 12.67, 13. Colter Krell 12.82, 14. Kane Jimenez 13.00, 15. Austin Ruvalcaba 13.10, 18. Bryson McGill 13.22

200 Meter Dash

5. Skylar Rogers 24.86, 7. Hunter Burnet 25.04, 8. Jace Bullington 25.12, 11. Colter Krell 25.79, 16. Bryson McGill 26.60, 21. Mason Riding 26.88, 22. Kane Jimenez 27.07, 23. Austin Ruvalcaba 27.16

400 Meter Run

2. Skylar Rogers 54.10, 4. Landon Heaps 55.47, 5. Mason Riding 55.49, 6. Hunter Burnett 55.66, 11. Jace Bullington 59.90, 14. Austin Ruvalcaba 1:01.65, 20. Bryson McGill 1:04.85, 22. Malachi Villarreal 1:06.93

1600 Meter Run

4. Malachi Villareal 5:18.35, 12. Gabe Platt 7:53.68

3200 Meter Run

1. Gabe Platt 16:09.56

110 Meter Hurdles

3. Hunter Burnett 18.45

300 Meter Hurdles

7. Colter Krell 49.02

High Jump

1. Bryson McGill 5’10”, 7. Kane Jimenez 5’2”

Long Jump

12. Skylar Rogers 16’11”, 16. Kane Jimenez 15’8.75”, 19. Jace Bullington 15’1.5”

Shot Put

3. Derek Hagler 36’9.5”, 4. Dylan Hagler 36’8”, 12. Landon Heaps 33’9”

Discus Throw

8. Dylan Hagler 94”11.5”

Roy Peck Invitational Results

Girls Results

1. Worland 175.50, 2. Lander 116, 3. Rawlins 80, 4. Kemmerer 63, 5. Riverton 52, 6. Big Piney 51, 7. Saratoga 47.50, 8. Pinedale  29, 9. Dubois 25, 10. Wind River 13, 11. Wyoming Indian 5, 12. Shoshoni 4, 13. St. Stephens 1

100 Meter Dash

7. Jolee Swaysey 13.26, 23. Hadlee Wood 14.36

200 Meter Dash

4. Keira Heiner 27.47, 9. Natasha Martinez 28.18, 19. Haddy Plowman 29.33

800 Meter Run

14. Laranda Waldner 2:56.58

1600 Meter Run

7. Aralynne Erickson 6:03.95, 11. Arianne Dearden 6:12.17

3200 Meter Run

8. Arianne Dearden 13:59.01

4x100 Relay

2. Jolee Swasey, Laynee Walker, Natasha Martinez, Keira Heiner 50.64

4x400 Relay

2. Natasha Martinez, Tyler Thatcher, Ella Thatcher, Keira Heiner 4:20.00

4x800 Relay

1. Aralynne Erickson, Tyler Thatcher, Laranda  Waldner, Arianne Dearden 12:10.54

1600 Sprint Medley

3. Jolee Swasey, Natasha Martinez, Tyler Thatcher, Aralynne Erickson 4:36.93

Pole Vault

2. Laynee Walker 8’6”, 7. Tyler Thatcher 7”

Long Jump

1. Jolee Swasey 15’6.5”, 20. Haddy Plowman 12’7.5”, 27. Keira Heiner 11’7”

Shot Put

8. Nadia Runnion 30’4.5”, 15. Kylie Price 28’6.5”, 18. Hadlee Wood 27’10”, 24. Ella Thatcher 25”9.5”, 35. Cambree Dearden 23’7”, 46. Janae Skidmore 21’4.5”

Discus Throw

10. Kylie Price 88’11”, 14. Nadia Runnion 84’6”, 19. Ella Thatcher 77’9”, 23. Cambree Dearden 73’10”, 24. Hadlee Wood 73’4”, 29. Janae Skidmore 64’10”

Boys Results

1. Riverton 134, 2. Worland 118, 3. Lander Valley 90.50, 4. Rawlins 77, 5. Kemmerer, 59.50, 6. Dubois 57, 7. Wind River 46, 8. Big Piney 36, 9. Saratoga 27, 10. Shoshoni 18, 11. Wyoming Indian 12

100 Meter Dash

24. Jace Bullington 12.55, 28. Austin Ruvalcaba 12.80, 46. Bryson McGill 13.12

200 Meter Dash

18. Bryson McGill 26.14, 23. Kane Jimenez 26.66, 33. Austin Ruvalcaba 27.28, 41. Jacob Platt 28.63

400 Meter Dash

4. Skyler Rogers 54.44

800 Meter Run

10. Mason Riding 2:22.31, 20. Jayce Winkler 2:43.24, 25. Gabe Platt 3:20.34

1600 Meter Run

18. Malachi Villarreal 5:29.18, 24. Jacob Platt 5:51.95, 25. Jayce Winkler 5:56.60, 30. Gabe Platt 7:14.49

3200 Meter Run

1. Owen Burnett 9:21.05, 12. Malachi Villareal 11:29.98, 16. Jacob Platt 12:26.30

110 Meter Hurdles

7. Colter Krell 18.23, 9. Hunter Burnett 19.66

300 Meter Hurdles

7. Hunter Burnett 44.89, 10. Colter Krell 47.98

4x100 Relay

5. Colter Krell, Jace Bullington, Hunter  Burnett, Austin Ruvalcaba 48.53

4x400 Relay

1. Owen Burnett, Landon Heaps, Skyler Rogers, Mason Riding 3:39.17

4x800 Relay

6. Malachi Villarreal, Jayce Winkler, Jacob Platt, Mason Riding 10:37.27

1600 Sprint Medley

1. Skyler Rogers, Landon Heaps, Owen Burnett, Hunter Burnett 3:46.94

High Jump

1. Bryson McGill 5’8”, 8. Kane Jimenez 5”

Long Jump

12. Skyler Rogers 17’2”, 25. Jayce Winkler 14’10”, 28. Jace Bullington 14’6”

Shot Put

6. Derek Hagler 37’.5”, 12. Dylan Hagler 35’5.5”, 15. Landon Heaps 34’4”

Discus Throw

9. Dylan Hagler 100’1”, 20. Landon Heaps 90’1”, 24. Colter Krell 88’6”