Bobcat track team headed to regionals

Last Friday, Thermopolis hosted the Bobcat Invite track meet, the last regular meet of the season. Coach Aimee Kay noted the weather was somewhat cooperative, and though there were not as many personal records (PRs) as there have been for the Bobcats they still had a few.

Karsten Hart set new PRs in the long jump and 1600, and Kay said he's coming along and gaining some confidence as a freshman. Logan Shumway set a new PR in the triple jump and Jazy Jensen set a new PR in the pole vault. Wyatt McDermott set a new PR in pole vault and won the event.

Kaylee DeVries and Ashley McPhie set new PRs in the 100 meter hurdles, and McPhie set a new PR in the 300 meter hurdles. Jesse Skelton set new PRs in the 100 meters and the 400 meters. Wyatt McDermott set a new PR in the 800 meters. McKenna Bomengen set a new PR in the 3200.

Kay was upset about the 4x400 boys relay of Kolby George, Jarron Mortimore, Wyatt McDermott and Ethan Becher. She noted George and Becher already had run a lot during the meet but still ran their hearts out. "Kolby had us in the lead," she said. "Wyatt lost the lead for a little bit but regained it. He played it really smart and ran a very strategic race. Jarron and a personal record in that 400, and then Ethan pulled his quad. We didn't win, but the heartbreaker is I think Ethan's done for the season."

One thing missing from the meet was the throwing competition. Kay explained too much rain in the field created an issue, and rather than risk tearing it up further prior to the middle school conference they gave it another day to dry out.

Looking ahead to the 3A East Regionals this weekend, Kay has been putting students where they have the best chance to qualify for state. The team leaves Thursday after school and will compete Friday and Saturday. The two-day event allows Kay to put some of the kids in a few more events without completely wiping them out in a day.

In order to qualify for state, students must finish in the top eight for individual events and the top four for relays.

Results from the Bobcat Invite include:

Girls

Julie Johnson: long jump 19th, 13'3"; high jump fifth, 4'6"

Sesi Jensen: long jump 23rd, 12'9.5"; triple jump 12th, 29'9.75"

Caydence Becher: long jump 28th, 12'5.5"; triple jump 16th, 27'10.75"

Hallie Martinez: triple jump 18th, 27'1.75"

Ashley McPhie: high jump 11th, 4'2"; 100 meter hurdles 19th, 19.21; 300 meter hurdles 11th, 55.75

Olivia Weyer: pole vault first, 9'3"

Jazy Jensen: pole vault 10th, 6'9"; 100 meters 40th, 15.75; 200 meters 42nd, 34.97

Kaylee DeVries: 100 meter hurdles 10th, 18.27; 100 meters 25th, 14.74; 300 meter hurdles 14th, 57.08

Sequoia Fishbaugh: 100 meters 41st, 15.77

McKenna Bomengen: 1600 meters second, 5:42.34; 3200 meters first, 12:34.39

Tahja Hunt: 1600 meters fourth, 5:48.34

Dayna Crow: 200 meters 18th, 31.16

Bri DeVries: 200 meters 21st, 31.45

The 4x800 team of Crow, Robinson, Hunt and Aspen Jensen placed second with 11:14.38. The 4x400 team of Robinson, Martinez, Bri DeVries and Crow placed fourth with 4:43.90

Boys

Jaxson Jensen: long jump 17th, 16'7.75"; triple jump 16th, 33'4"

Karsten Hart: long jump 40th, 12'2.5"; 1600 meters 22nd, 6:07.34

Logan Shumway: triple jump 14th, 34'11"; high jump 13th, 5'4"

Jarron Mortimore: high jump 13th, 5'4"; 110 meter hurdles 19th, 20.37; 200 meters 18th, 25.65

Wyatt McDermott: pole vault first, 10'9"; 800 meters sixth, 2:12.63

Blake Williams: pole vault second, 10'9"

Jesse Skelton: pole vault sixth, 10'3"; 100 meters 11th, 12.00; 400 meters fourth, 55.97

Ethan Becher: 110 meter hurdles 10th, 18.31; 399 meter hurdles fourth, 43.99

Chance Huffstetler: 100 meters 21st, 12.37

Noah Hill: 100 meters 45th, 13.49; 200 meters 38th, 27.88

Kolby George: 800 meters third, 2:06.35

The 4x100 team of Williams, Jensen, Huffstetler and Becher placed fifth with 47.53