6A and 5A runners, jumpers, throwers, all set their sights on the state championships

IDAHO FALLS – The best of the area’s 6A and 5A athletes converged on Ravsten Stadium this weekend intent on earning their spot in next week’s Track & Field state championships.

Friday’s combined 6A District 4-5-6 and 5A District 6 competition was highlighted by state-best times by Highland’s Spencer Van Orden in both 6A hurdles races, as well as several personal bests that might bode well for medal contenders next week.

“I’m not running my best yet,” Skyline sprinter Zyan Crockett said, adding he expects to step things up at next week’s 5A state meet.

He didn’t set any personal records in individual events at the district meet, but did win both of his 100-meter and 200-meter races with teammate Will Hardy right behind in both events.

The duo also ran on the winning 4×100 and 4×200 relays.

Skyline won the 5A boys team title with an impressive 173.5 points, outdistancing runner-up Idaho Falls with 98 points.

The Idaho Falls girls were equally impressive, outscoring Blackfoot 157.5 to 106.5.

Rigby won the 6A boys title, holding off Highland 116 to 97.

The Highland girls returned the favor, winning the team title with 117 points to Rigby’s 94.

Crockett held off Hardy in the 100 with a time of 11.38 to Hardy’s 11:45. Trey Kirkham was third in 11.69, making it clean sweep for the Grizzlies.

Van Orden had another busy weekend, winning the 100 in 10.82 and dazzled in his signature hurdles races, setting a PR of 13.55 to win the 6A 110 hurdles, and clocking 36.60 to win the 300s.

On the girls side, Idaho Falls’ Jaycee Jensen was busy, winning the 5A 400 in 59.85, the 1,600 in 5:26.54 and Friday’s 3,200 in 11:42.73.

She finished second in Saturday’s 400 behind a strong finish by Bonneville’s Ava Daniel.

The plan at the state meet is to run the 3,200, 1,600 and 800. Jensen started her career as a 400 runner, but transitioned to one of the area’s top distance runners.

Her time of 5:12.40 in the 1,600 leads the state in 5A.

“I’m really happy with where I’m at this season,” Jensen said, noting she’s prepared to manage her time and energy to compete in three events at the state meet.

While Van Orden’s performance might seem to overshadow the hurdle races, Hillcrest’s Garrett Cook was just as impressive in the 5A competition.

The senior set personal bests of 14.40 in the 110 hurdles and 39.63 in the 300s.

Both times are second on the 5A state performance list.

Cook said he pulled his hamstring last week, but was good to go on Saturday.

He said he followed siblings into the sport and has been tough to beat ever since. Cook is unbeaten this season in the 110 hurdles.

Cook finished third in the 110-hurdles and sixth in the 300s at last year’s state meet.

His goal this year is to get on top of the podium. He’s been working on his starts to get better, he said.

Notes

Adding to a recent string of strong runners at Blackfoot, freshman Owen Gregory topped two minutes in the 5A 800 final (1:59.83).

Elias Couch, a standout swimmer at Skyline, added 5A shot put champion to his resume with a personal-best toss of 48-7.75.

Rigby thrower Brayden Maughan, who was already among 6A state leaders in the shot put and discus, hit a PR of 51-0 in the shot and won the district discus title with a mark of 176-8, winning by more than 22 feet.

The javelin continues to be a new and growing event, with Rawley Tapia of Blackfoot and Kacen McGarry each setting personal best marks of 140-8 and 137-2, respectively, in 5A boys. The top six finishers in 6A all set personal records, with Garrett Merwin of Rigby winning in 144-8.

Shelley pole vaulter Logan Miller is headed to the state meet after clearing a personal best of 14-0.

Merwin of Rigby added to his medal collection with a win in the 6A pole vault.

Blackfoot junior Boedy Callister doubled in the long jump and triple jump, edging Idaho Falls’ Drostan Ball by one inch to win the long jump.

Giryan Jones of Bonneville also doubled up in the 5A 1,600 and 3,200, running personal bests in both races.

More notes, girls edition

Hallie Burton of Idaho Falls won the 5A 100 in 12.79 and also sprinted to a win in the 200 in 26.47.

Thunder Ridge freshman Abigail Sondag won the 6A 100 in 12.65, but it was Highland’s Gracee Anderson who took the 200 in 25.85 with Sondag right behind in 26.65.

Anderson also won the 400.

Madison’s Brynlee Gwilliam continues to be a force in the distance races. She won the 6A 3,200 on Friday in a PR time of 11:17.23, and got out front early in Saturday’s 1,600 to cruise to another PR at 5:08.25. She also won the 800.

Abby Coleman of Idaho Falls won the 5A 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles, while Highland junior Leigh Ellis also doubled up in the 6A hurdles.

Blackfoot standout basketball player Cambrie Waterhouse won the shot put and teammate Eva Grimm added a district title in the discus.

Rigby’s Bailey Clements won the 6A shot and discus. Her shot put mark of 39-5 puts her third in the state in 6A and her discus toss of 122-8 was good for fifth in the 6A state rankings.

Hillcrest’s Alexa Weatherly cruised to a win in the 5A javelin with a toss of 117-6.

Rigby’s deep pole vault crew swept the event, with freshman Gracie West setting a personal record of 12-0 to lead the state. Lizzy Poston and Kaylei Kelly finished second and third, respectively.

Rigby’s Brinley Bybee set a season record of 17-10.5 in the long jump to move into second place on the 6A list.