Tigers shatter records at regionals

Encampment Tigers Track coach Kegan Willford wasn’t surprised when McKenzie Powell broke the school record last weekend at the regional track meet in Lander, but he was surprised by how fast she ran.

The competition was good, Willford said, and it was windy for Lander – at about 10 to 15 miles per hour.

Despite the wind, three school records were broke, one being a record that has been broken twice already this year.

Powell missed beating the state record by three seconds. A record that has been standing since 2006.

Powell said it is her goal to break the record in Casper.

State records can only be broken at the state competition, which begins Thursday.

The boys 4x800 relay team broke a school record that was set in 1989 by one second and took first place at regionals. Gage Bartlett, Hunter Hammer, Guy Erickson and Brett Ralston make up the boys 4x800 relay team.

The girls 4x800 relay team broke the school record for the third time this season. Willford was impressed with the 18 second margin by which they broke their own record at regionals and said he looks forward to see what the girls will do at state. The 4x800 relay team consists of Cassidy Little, Powell, Ashlynn Johnson and Micaiah Pantle.

Keegan Johnson took first place with a high jump of 5 foot 6 inches.

“Regionals was a great meet and the kids are peaking at the right time. Every single athlete who competed at regionals had a personal best,” Willford said.

What is more impressive is the number of track and field athletes that qualified for more than one event.

Hunter Hammer qualified for four events, as did Powell. Little, Erickson and Johnson all qualified in three events, while several others qualified in two events.

The top eight placers in individual events and the top four placers in relay events qualified for state track in Casper. Events begin with the 3200-meter run at 11 a.m. Thursday and finish late Saturday afternoon with the 1600-meter relay.