Barkhurst jumps past 32-year mark

Encampment School is the recipient of a new long jump record holder.

As a sophomore, Alyssa Barkhurst broke the school's 32-year-old girls' record with a first-place leap of 16 feet 7 1/4 inches, which she made during Saturday's Saratoga Track and Field Invite. Encampment's previous girls' long jump record, set in 1982, was 16'6.5".

Only two years into a high school track career, this was the second record Barkhurst had set for the sport. Last year as a freshman, her 200 meter dash time of 26.71 seconds also broke a school record.

"I broke the 200 meter dash record last year and wanted to break another one, but I didn't think it would be the long jump," Barkhurst said. "The goal was to break a record, and I thought I'd probably break a hurdle or running record before I broke the long jump. It's cool that I broke a record from more than 30 years ago. I heard the school had a really good track team in the 80s."

Barkhurst, who has already qualified for state this year, said she hopes to repeat last year's success while in Casper. For 2013's state tournament, she was the 1A State Champion in both the 100 and 200 meter dashes.

"I'd like to keep my status as reigning champion," Barkhurst said. "I'd definitely like to get first in the 100 and 200 again, but we'll see about the long jump. I'd at least like to do my personal best at state. Before I'm a senior, I'd also like to break 12 seconds in my 100 meter dash, and eventually break the school record in the 100 meter hurdles."

Barkhurst said she has also noticed personal growth this season when it comes to competing.

"Last year I was so afraid to lose," she said. "This year I'm still competitive and want to win, but I've grown a lot and learned that doing your best is what matters most. I've learned that competing is not only about winning or losing."

In addition to Barkhurst's performance, nine other Encampment Tigers took home one or more top-three medals from Saturday's invite, which took place at Saratoga Middle/High School. McKenzie Powell was another star athlete, earning top-three placements in four events and qualifying for state again.

Powell's first-place out of the four events came from a time of 1 minute and 6.3 seconds in the 400 meter dash.

For the middle school competitors, Paige Powell and Noelle Peterson both made the top-three in two events. Powell's top medals included first place in the high jump for a height of 4'08".

On the boys' side for the middle-schoolers, Gage Bartlett made the top-three for the 200 meter hurdles and triple jump.

The high school Tigers can now look forward to the Shane Brock Invite Saturday in Lander. Encampment's junior high athletes have the I-80 Invite in Rock Springs Saturday, followed by the "Best of the Best" state tourney held Monday in Lander.

Top-three results from the Saratoga Invite:

Varsity Girls Team:

seventh place, 44 points

Alyssa Barkhurst- girls long jump- 16' 7 1/4' (first place, school record)

McKenzie Powell- girls 100 meter dash- 13.83 seconds (third place)

McKenzie Powell- girls 200 meter dash- 28.91 (second place)

McKenzie Powell- girls 400 meter dash- 1 minute 6.3 seconds (first place)

McKenzie Powell- girls triple jump- 32 feet 1/4 inch (third place)

Junior High Girls Team:

fifth place, 78 points

Ashlynn Johnson- girls 800 meter run- 6:44.88 (third place)

Girls 4x400 meter relay- (Ashlynn Johnson, Makiya Johnson, Noelle Peterson, Riley Little)- 5:23.9 (second place)

Paige Powell- girls high jump- 4' 8" (first place)

Lauren Buford- girls high jump- 4' 2" (second place)

Ashlynn Johnson- girls high jump- 4' (third place)

Noelle Peterson- girls long jump- 13' 1/2" (third place)

Noelle Peterson- girls discus throw- 64' (second place)

Paige Powell- girls discus throw- 61' 1/2" (third place)

Varsity Boys Team:

eighth place, two points

Varsity Boys Team- eighth place, two points

Guy Erickson- boys 800 meter run- 2:28.24 (eighth place)

Guy Erickson- boys high jump- 4' 10" (eighth place)

Junior High Boys Team:

sixth place, 46 points

Reid Schroeder- boys 800 meter run- 2:44.6 (third place)

Gage Bartlett- boys 200 meter hurdles- 33.28 (third place)

Gage Bartlett- boys triple jump- 31-03.3/4 (third place)