The Kemmerer High School track and field teams were in Big Piney Friday for the Puncher Invitational, enjoying some of the best weather of the season and turning in another round of solid …
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The Kemmerer High School track and field teams were in Big Piney Friday for the Puncher Invitational, enjoying some of the best weather of the season and turning in another round of solid performances.
The Rangers and Lady Rangers both finished second overall, with the two teams combining to win nine events and 20 individual placers.
“We had some good performances — the girls and boys both took second out of all the teams, so that was good,” said KHS head coach Phil Thatcher. “We don’t worry as much about placing in these meets as we do just performances getting a little better, but our kids did well — I was pretty happy with them.”
Laynee Walker led the charge for the Lady Rangers, winning the pole vault and the 100 hurdles; Cole Rogers, Bowman Sandall and Derek Hagler each won events on the boys’ side, placing in the top spot in the 400 meters, the 1600 meters and the shot put, respectively.
The KHS track and field teams are headed to Star Valley Wednesday, and Friday the teams will take the trip up to Shoshoni, site of this year’s 2A West Regional Meet.
“The forecast in Star Valley for Wednesday keeps going back and forth — there might be snow, there might not,” Thatcher said. “It will be a cooler day, but no wind, so we’ll take that. Friday, we’re in Shoshoni, so we’ll get on the track and in the pits where we’re gonna have regionals. And Saturday is prom, so that’s a nice day for the kids to have to get ready for what they need to do that night.”
Lady Rangers
Laynee Walker won the pole vault with a height of 9 feet, 6 inches, though she was going for a personal best when she ran out of chances. The talented junior won the 100 hurdles with a time of 17.86, and finished second in the 300 hurdles, posting a time of 50.93.
“Instead of going for 10 feet in the pole vault, Laynee went for 10 feet, 3 inches, which would have been a PR for her,” Thatcher said. “She just missed it, but we’re still figuring out a couple of things — pole length, 5- or 6-step approach, those kinds of things. But she’s doing well, and I’m glad she’s having some success.”
The Lady Rangers dominated the relay events, led by the 4x100 relay team of Jolee Swasey, Laynee Walker, Natasha Martinez and Claire Crosland, who won the event in a time of 52.44.
The 4x400 team of Martinez, Ella Thatcher, Tyler Thatcher, and Aralynne Erickson placed first with a time of 4:21.39, while the sprint medley team of Swasey, Martinez, Ella Thatcher and Erickson also finished in the top spot, with a time of 4:48.01.
The 4x800 team of Arianne Dearden, Josie Gunter, Tyler Thatcher and Laranda Waldner placed third, with a time of 11:32.86.
“Our strength — as it was last year — is our relays,” coach Thatcher said. “We’re pretty deep, and those girls are running really well. We have freshman Claire Crosland running on the 4x100 team, and she did a good job. I’m just really proud of our lady relays.”
Other placers included second-place finishes by Aralynne Erickson in the 1600 meters (6:25.75) and Jolee Swasey in the long jump (15’11.5”). Natasha Martinez finished third in the long jump (15’5.5”), as did Nadia Runnion in the discus (100’5”); Kylie Price finished fifth in the shot put (32’3”) and seventh in the discus (90’).
Tyler Thatcher placed sixth in the 200 meters (30.54), while Janae Skidmore was seventh in the high jump (4’6”).
“It was the first time long jumping this year for Natasha Martinez, and she went 15 feet, 5.5 inches, which qualified her for state,” Thatcher said. “Jolee Swasey had
