Bobcat track team hosts meet

On Friday, the Hot Springs County High School Track and Field Team competed in Thermopolis for the Bobcat Invite. Coach Ernie Mecca expressed his appreciation to the members of the school community and the town for helping at the meet.

It takes a large number of volunteers to have a successful meet, Mecca said, and this one saw 569 athletes from 24 teams, and it took everyone that helped to get it done in five-and-a-half hours.

Mecca also acknowledged senior Tyler Cornwell, noting he is the student president and a leader. It was Cornwell's idea to have more than 60 percent of proceeds from concessions go to Leo Horsen, the Meeteetse boy who was struck by a shot put May 2. The injury fractured Horsen's skull and injured his eye socket.

As for the Bobcats, Mecca said there was a lot of good performance. The 4x800 relay team of Cullen Becher, Ethan Becher, Chandler Maddock and Cameron Igou took first place with a time of 8:41.62; the time was not only an automatic qualifier for State, but is also the fastest for the school's classification.

Cornwell qualified for State in the triple jump, with a second place distance of 40' 9" in the Triple Jump. Mecca noted the jump was great, and Cornwell has been battling some leg soreness.

Mecca also pointed out Bjorhus' first place 12' 7" height on the Pole Vault, coming close to breaking the school record but also getting his best height and reaching a personal record here at home. The height qualifies him for State.

On the girls team, Mecca spoke of Jules Ward's 1600 Meter first place time of 5:27.19, a personal record for her and the new school record. Mecca added the previous record holder was Crystal Hostetter, who was also one of the premier distance runners of Thermopolis High.

Ward also qualified for State with a first place time of 2:25.63 in the 800 Meters.

The team of Makayla George, Zoe Stehlin, Josi Thurgood and Liz Rhodes took a sixth place finish in the 4x100 Relay, with a time of 54.98. Mecca noted this was the first time this team ran the event, and missed qualifying for State by one tenth of a second.

Chandra Maddock qualified for State and set a personal record in the 3200 Meters with the first place time of 12:35.40, and the team of Maddock, Ward, Stehlin and Haley McDermott qualified with a first place time of 4:21.34 in the 4x400 Relay.

Other results from the meet include:

Makayla George - High Jump fifth, 4' 7", Triple Jump third, 30' 4.5"

Zoe Stehlin - 200 Meters fourth, 28.47

Maggie Ryan - 1600 Meters fifth, 5:58.35, 3200 Meters third, 13:13.27

Haley McDermott - 800 Meters fourth 2:33.27 (personal record)

Josi Thurgood - 300 Hurdles fourth 56.32 (personal record)

Tyler Cornwell - Shot Put second, 44' 7"

Cullen Becher - 800 Meters sixth, 2:06.91 (personal record)

Cullen Becher, Ethan Becher, Chandler Maddock and Cameron Igou - 4x400 Relay third, 3:42.77

Cody Bjorhus - 100 Meters third, 11.85, 200 Meters fourth, 24.49

Ethan Becher - 300 Hurdles eighth, 44.96

Domanic Jensen - Long Jump fourth, 19' 8"

Cameron Igou - Long Jump ninth, 18' 6.75" (personal record), Triple Jump ninth, 38' 5.5" (personal record)

Alex Jensen - 3200 Meters, 12:16.17 (personal record)

Brock Tillack - Discus, 77' 5" (personal record)

Jared Little - Discus, 91'3" (personal record)

Logan Meier - Discus, 73' 10.5" (personal record)

The boys team placed fourth with 63 points, and the girls placed second with 72. The bobcats will next compete at Regionals, scheduled for May 13 and 14 at Lander.