Panther boys nab second at Saratoga Invite

Andrew Oiler grabbed first place from a height of 11'6" in the pole vault during the Saratoga Track and Field Invitational, and once again qualified for state. Other varsity state qualifiers for the boys included Kyle Bartlett (11.74 seconds and sixth place in the 100 meter dash), Seth Harrison (11.64 and fourth place in the 100 meter dash), Hunter Mason (11.55 and third place in the 100 meter dash, 23.47 and second place in the 200 meter dash) and Tate Stinson (11.85 and seventh place in the 100 meter dash).

Overall, the high school boys team earned second place from a total of 118 points, while the boys middle school team took third from 70.50 points. As the only female competitor in the 3200 meter run, Katie Loose took first from a time of 14:44.52.

Head coach Rex Hohnholt said he was pleased with the good weather, athlete participation and volunteer support during the Platte Valley's home tourney last Saturday.

"I want to give a special thanks to all the faculty and staff that helped make our invitational a big success for our athletes, the athletes from other schools and our whole community," he said. "What a great event it was."

Saratoga Middle School's athletes stepped it up and brought home six gold medals from the invite.

First-place individual achievers competing at Saratoga Middle/High School were Melissa Pinedo (17.73 in the girls 100 meter hurdles) and Jaxon King (12.68 in the boys 100 meter dash). The middle school girls relay teams for the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 also earned first place, and were followed by another gold-winning time from the 4x400 middle school boys.

Additionally, the high school Panthers fared well at Saturday's event, with the boys relay teams taking home first in the 4x100 and 4x400 competitions. The 4x100 team's time of 46.49 qualified for the State Track and Field Championships.

The high school Panthers will next attend the Bobcat Invite, Friday in Thermopolis, and the Shane Brock Invite Saturday in Lander. Middle school athletes compete Saturday at the I-80 Invite in Rock Springs, and Monday at their state meet in Lander.

Top-three results

and state qualifiers from the Saratoga Invite:

Varsity Girls:

Varsity Girls Team

sixth place, 52 points

Haley Soles- Girls 400 meter dash- 1 minute 8.18 seconds (second place)

Kelsie Samson- Girls 1600 meter run- 6:34.23 (second place)

Katie Loose- Girls 3200 meter run- 14:44.52 (first place, ran against the clock)

Girls 4x400 meter relay- Saratoga A Team (Katie Loose, Kelsie Samson, Haley Soles, Alicia Zaragoza)- 4:45.71 (second place)

Junior High Girls:

Varsity Girls Team

sixth place, 52 points

Melissa Pinedo- Girls 100 meter hurdles- 17.73 (first place)

Girls 4x100 meter relay- Saratoga A Team (Melissa Pinedo, Kennison Spiering, Aubrey Berger, Mychaela Jackman)- 58.68 (first place)

Girls 4x200 meter relay- Saratoga A Team (Mychaela Jackman, Kennison Spiering, Allison Falk, Kiersten Bartlett)- 2:09.20 (first place)

Girls 4x400 meter relay- Saratoga A Team (Mychaela Jackman, Kiersten Bartlett, Taylor Bennett, Melissa Pinedo)- 5:07.38 (first place)

Varsity Boys:

Varsity Boys Team

second place, 118 points

Andrew Oiler- Pole vault- 11 feet 6 inches (first place, state qualifier)

Hunter Mason- Boys 100 meter dash- 11.55 (third place, state qualifier)

Hunter Mason- Boys 200 meter dash- 23.47 (second place, state qualifier)

Rodrigo Escobedo- Boys 400 meter dash- 58.43 (third place)

Cameron Collamer- Boys 1600 meter run- 5:2.82 (second place)

Kyle Bartlett- Boys 100 meter dash- 11.74 (sixth place, state qualifier)

Tate Stinson- Boys 100 meter dash- 11.85 (seventh place, state qualifier)

Seth Harrison- Boys 100 meter dash- 11.63 (fourth place, state qualifier)

Boys 4x100 meter relay- Saratoga A Team (Kyle Bartlett, Seth Harrison, Hunter Mason, Tate Stinson)- 46.49 (first place, state qualifier)

Boys 4x400 meter relay- Saratoga A Team (Cameron Collamer, Rodrigo Escobedo, Hunter Mason, Alex Ziegler)- 3:51.48 (third place)

Boys 4x800 meter relay- Saratoga A Team (Matthew Lincoln, Darian Williams, Bradley Bifano, Rodrigo Escobedo)- 10:01.34 (third place)

Bradley Bifano- Boys high jump- 5-04.00 (third place)

Junior High Boys:

Junior High Boys Team- third place, 70.50 points

Jaxon King- Boys 100 meter dash- 12.68 (first place)

Sam Schneider- Boys 100 meter hurdles- 20.63 (third place)

Boys 4x100 meter relay- Saratoga A Team (Tyler Shotwell, Jeremy Detterer, Logan Wells, Jaxon King)- 56.14 (second place)

Boys 4x400 meter relay- Saratoga A Team (Jaxon King, Jeremy Detterer, Kevin Sharp, Tyler Shotwell)- 4:41.97 (first place)

Colton Jones- Boys long jump- 13-11.00 (third place)