There weren't that many meets taking place in Utah last week, but it's all pieces of a whole. Every meet is an opportunity, so let's see who made the most of last week's opprotunities.
Logan Grizzly Invitational
The 43.06 by Sky View's Brenna Porter is a huge mark. How big? Top 20 in the nation for the season big. And it has her way out in front of the competition in Utah. If there's a down side here, it would be that Porter and her coaches may have to make some difficult decisions about events before state rolls around, But, as the saying goes, it's a good problem to have.
But there were a few more big marks from this meet as well. Jerrell Mock's 9:27.05 3200 qualifies under that heading. Zach Watson and Mitch Kalinin (a name we haven't mentioned before) going 14-8 in the pole vault passes the "big" test. Kassie Nagel sending the shot put 39 feet beyond the toe board registers on the scale as well. Tyler Roberts (1600) and Conner Mantz (3200) made a case for Sky View as one of the better 4A distance programs in the state.
Girls Highlights
- 300 Meter Hurdles - Brenna Porter (Sky View) 43.06 SB;
- Discus - Heilala Havea (Copper Hills) 121-5 SB;
- Long Jump - Karlee Kartchner (Mountain Crest) 17-9 SB;
- Pole Vault - Bethany Foster (Bingham) 10-7 SB;
- Shot Put - Kassie Nagel (Morgan) 39-0 SB; Tanisha Daniels (Fremont) 37-4.75 SB;
- Sprint Medley Relay - Mountain Crest 4:27.26; Box Elder 4:29.80;
Boys Highlights
- 3200 Meter Run - Jerrell Mock (Logan) 9:27.05 SB; Conner Mantz (Sky View) 9:29.69 SB;
- 800 Meter Run - Tyler Roberts (Sky View) 1:57.80 SB;
- Pole Vault - Zach Watson (Syracuse) 14-8 SB; Mitch Kalinin (Bingham) 14-8 SB;
- Sprint Medley Relay - Syracuse 3:38.89;
MC @ Roy
There's only so much you can expect out of a dual meet. For most athletes, the big invitational adrenaline simply isn't there.
Miranda O'Very going 5:29.33 in the 1600 probably qualifies as the most impressive mark coming out of this meet.
Old Capitol Invitational
Only girls' results seem to be available. I confess I don't know if there was a boys division or not, but I'm guessing there was.
When you start talking about the top small school female athletes in the state, few names bubble to the surface faster than Samantha Nicholes and Erica Birk. Birk may have been taking things a little easy at this meet, if a 2:17.43 800 can qualify as "easy." I suspect, though, that Birk may also have been involved in a relay or two. Nicholes did her usual thing and won the 100, 200, and long jump, leaving little doubt in the process of any of her events.