On two days of unseasonably warm sunny blue sky weather in St. George, during the 44-team field of 6A-to-1A squads entered at the Pine View Invitational, Valley tracksters met their matches, ranking 39th with a total of five points: the boys were 33rd with three and the girls 34th with two. Their best showings were in the sprint medley relay (SMR) in which runners pass a baton starting with consecutive 200-meters, then a 400-meter and an 800-meter (2-2-4-8) for the length of 1600 meters.
The SMR team of Bret Heaton, Hunter Barrick, Layton Spencer and Tyler Bonham came in number six (4:01.50) winning three points. Bonham placed #80 (2:14.93) in the 800-m and #132 (5:07.91) in the 1600-m. Barrick, coincidently, was #132 (13.04) in the 100-m, as well as #121 (26.57) in the 200-m. Spencer in the 400-m took #13 (53.98). Heaton was #51 (56.40) in the 400-m and #15 (5-09.00) in high jump, three inches less than his 6-00.00 the week prior.
In javelin, Warren Spencer ranked #61 (95-04), Kyler Franklin #63 (94-04), Colt Reeve #67 (85-02) and Hadley Harris #74 (68-01). In discus, Franklin scored #44 (84-10.50), Zac Burrows #60 (74-04) and Harris #78 (55-10). In shot put, Burrows made #58 (32-06.75) and Reeve #69 (31-06).
Maddie Osterhout posted #96 (2:53.10) in the 800-m and #98 (6:15.70) in the 1600-m. Kaitlynn Baird was #116 (3:01.86) in the 800-m. The SMR was run by Annabelle Leyland, Brittyn Heaton, Rachel Cox and Osterhout into #7 (5:09.87) gaining two points. In the 100-m, Raigen Frost ranked #98 (15.08) and Caitlyn Cannon #115 (15.59).
In the long jump, Cannon leaped into #58 (12-07.50), Julia Hoyt #62 (12-02.00) and Kimber Reeve #43 (11-11.00). Janni Hoyt flung for #19 (89-01), Reeve chucked it as #25 (85-08) and Heaton landed #28 (83-02), Cox got #39 (78- 08), Julia Hoyt speared #54 (73-07) and Jentry Saul stuck #68 (61-04) in javelin. In the discus, Reeve hurled for #43 (64-08) and Janni Hoyt made #60 (54-04). The shot put was paced by Saul’s #27 (28-05.29), then Heaton’s #29 (28-01.50) and with Janni Hoyt at #30 (28-01.00). Heaton took a high jump leap tied for #46 (4-04.00).
“I help out with everything,” explains Coach Easton Syrett. But, I’m kind of better at the javelin, discus and shot. That’s what I’ve been working with them in practice. They all threw really well today with a couple of PR’s [personal records]. Janni qualified for State (#19 in javelin). We got marks for everyone finally, so it’s a great starting point to progress through the rest of the season. Rachel (#39 in javelin), I think, PR’ed, and then Jentry (#27) and Janni (#30) in shot put, both PR’ed. It was awesome. This has been a hard track meet, and the kids have done really good today. It’s hard to kind of sit around and wait to be ready, and come out and compete.”
“Alright,” began Coach Michael “Frank” Franklin’s summation, “At Pine View Invitational, we had some really good results. Had several kids that, first time out, they did really well. Had a couple of injuries that kind of prevented things from getting really good. But, the ones we had to step in to take care of their spots did really well. So, I’m just really pleased with it. And we’ll just keep continuing to grow as the year goes on.”
