Running against the wind

For their third weekend competing in track and field, Saratoga headed to Cheyenne to compete in the Okie Blanchard Invitational on April 9. Despite cold temperatures and high winds, the Saratoga High School student athletes had a decent showing.

While in Cheyenne, both Whitney Bennett and Noah Rimmer would prequalify for state track in several events. Bennett, additionally, would break a school record set nearly 30 years ago.

Girls at Okie

Bennett competed in two field events and two track events while in Cheyenne and prequalified in all four. In the 200 meter dash, she placed 4th as she finished with a time of 28.17 seconds and, in the 300 meter hurdles, she placed 2nd with a time of 50.81 seconds.

In the long jump, Bennett took 3rd place with a distance of 16 feet, 3.75 inches. It was in the triple jump, however, where Bennett really took off as she placed 2nd with a distance of 34 feet, 5 inches. That distance broke the previous school record of 34 feet, .5 inches which had been set by Melina Martin in 1993.

“Whitney performs the way she does because she prepares herself not only mentally, but physically. When she goes to the line, she’s warmed up and it’s tough to warm up in a 30 degree temperature and the wind chill factor at another 12 degrees colder,” said Head Coach Rex Hohnholt. “She’s been working for this moment for three years. She’s been in the weight room everyday and (in) summertime. Everybody thinks she’s just a gifted athlete. She’s gifted but she’s got gifts that she’s enhanced.”

While Bennett competed in the varsity events, a number of the girls competed in junior varsity events in Cheyenne.

Starting with the track events, Kaitlyn Campbell finished the 100 meter dash with a time of 15.79 seconds and was followed by Jaden Campbell with a time of 16.73 and Sam Fiedor with a time of 16.57. Tasia Daley also finished the 100 meter dash with a time of 34.68 seconds.

In the 200 meter dash, K. Campbell finished in 32.42 seconds and J. Campbell finished in 36.26 seconds. Marilee Williams placed 7th in the 800 meter run with a time of 3:09.66 and placed 7th in the 1600 meter run with a time of 6:43.26.

In the field events, Fiedor placed 7th in shot put with a distance of 25 feet, 6 inches and placed 8th in discus with a distance of 62 feet, 10 inches. Daley also competed in shot put with a distance of 19 feet, 9.5 inches and competed in discus with a distance of 53 feet, 6 inches. 

K. Campbell placed 7th in the triple jump with a distance of 26 feet, 2.5 inches.

Boys at Okie

Beginning with track events, Rimmer prequalified for the state track meet in the 100 meter dash as he placed 7th and finished with a time of 12.02 seconds in the varsity division. 

Jordan Travis also ran in the 100 meter dash, finishing with a time of 13.59. In the 400 meter run, Gavin Bartlett finished with a time of 1:05.83.

In the 800 meter run, Grant Bartlett finished with a time of 2:22.68 and was followed by Grady Bartlett with a time of 2:23.0 and Kelton Johnson with a time of 2:29.0.

The Bartlett twins also competed in the 1600 meter run with Grant finishing with a time of 5:06.35 and Grady finishing with a time of 5:06.76.

In the field events, Rimmer placed 2nd in the shot put with a distance of 45 feet, 2 inches and prequalified for state track. He also placed 2nd in discus with a distance of 119 feet, 2 inches. Travis also competed in the shot put, finishing with a distance of 35 feet, 2 inches, and in discus, finishing with a distance of 87 feet, 5.5 inches.

A number of the boys competed in the junior varsity division.

Erik Pinedo placed 4th in the 400 meter dash as he finished with a time of 1:01.1 while Calvin Condict placed 8th in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:34.13.

In the 100 meter dash, Pinedo finished with a time of 13.54 seconds and was followed by Geoffrey Johnson with a time of 14.16 seconds, Ethan Alvarado with a time of 14.2 seconds and John Powell with a time of 14.27 seconds.

In the 200 meter dash, Rimmer placed 3rd with a time of 25.94 seconds and was followed by G. Johnson with a time of 29.9 seconds, Slayd Daley with a time of 30.02 seconds and Douglass Campbell with a time of 33.83 seconds.

Heston Fisher placed 1st in the triple jump with a distance of 37 feet, 9.75 inches and placed 5th in the high jump with a height of 5 feet. K. Johnson placed 3rd in the high jump with a height of 5 feet, 2 inches.

Saratoga will be competing a lot closer to home this weekend as they host the Burt Willford Memorial Invite. According to Hohnholt, between junior high and high school teams, the event appears it will be well attended.

“When you host a junior high track meet and a high school track meet together like we do—and we do it for a reason, we want middle schoolers to get excited about seeing high school track and field and visa versa—it’s a good event,” Hohnholt said. “It’s just a way of honoring a gentleman that meant so much to this school.”

The Burt Willford Memorial Invite will be held on Saturday, April 17 at Saratoga Middle High School.