Bobcats earn firsts, break records at state track

Eight boys and eight girls from Hot Springs County High School traveled to Casper to compete at the Track and Field State Championships May 19-21. Coach Ernie Mecca commended both teams for making a tremendous effort during the three-day meet.

The boys' team won runner up, taking a total 83 points, and made 11 personal records, one state record and two school records. While a championship would've been nice, Mecca said a runner up is a good finish to the season. He further added the senior boys have had some amazing high school careers. They were fourth at state as freshmen, won state as sophomores and were runner-ups the past two years.

The 4x100 Relay team of Cody Bjorhus, Jacob Hart, Domanic Jensen and Tyler Cornwell not only broke their team personal record and the school record, but also the 15-year-old state record with a winning time of 43.99.

Specifically speaking of Bjorhus, Mecca said state was certainly his best meet. He won 30.5 points, and beyond the 4x100 Relay set a school and personal record in the Pole Vault with a second place height of 13' 6", a personal record in the 100 meter preliminaries with a time of 11.25 and a personal record in the 200 meter preliminaries with a time of 22.75.

Bjorhus went on to win the 100 meter finals with 11.39, and the 200 meter finals with 23.22.

Any time a team can trophy is great, Mecca said. The girls team went to state with the mindset they could win third or fourth place. They missed third by one point, winning 62 overall.

The 4x800 team of Jules Ward, Chandra Maddock, Haley McDermott and Maggie Ryan were state champs with a time of 10:15.26 - also a personal record - and Ward won the 1600 meters with 5:30.93 and the 3200 meters with 12:05.82.

Named Wyoming Coaches' Association All-State are Bjorhus, Cornwell, Hart and Jensen for the boys, and Maddock, McDermott, Ryan and Ward for the girls.

Looking at the season as a whole, Mecca said there were multiple records made, including personal school and state. The season was extremely difficult weather wise, he noted, and the first few meets didn't see the full team.

Mecca is proud of the core group of athletes, including those who did not make state, and expressed his appreciation to the Boosters, parents, coaching staff and fans.

Other results from the meet are as follows:

Jules Ward - 800m final second, 2:25.81

Chandra Maddock - 800m final third, 2:25.94, 1600m final third, 5:36.31, 3200m final third, 12:52.58

Haley McDermott - Pole Vault seventh, 8'

Josi Thurgood - 100m Hurdles preliminary 12th, 18.29, a personal record

Zoe Stehlin, Makayla George, Thurgood and Elizabeth Rhodes - 4x100 Relay fifth, 54.41, a team personal record

Cullen Becher - 800m fifth, 2:03.11, 1600m third, 4:40.72 - a personal record - 3200m eighth 10:59.85

Jacob Hart - 200m preliminary fifth, 23.03 - a personal record - 200m final fourth, 23.74, 400m final fourth, 51.76

Domanic Jensen - 200m preliminary seventh, 23.09 - a personal record - 200m final fifth, 23.78, Long Jump fifth, 20' 9.5"

Tyler Cornwell - Triple Jump sixth, 40' 9", Shot Put fifth, 44' 9.75"

Chandler Maddock - 200m preliminary 15th, 23.63 - a personal record - 400m final fifth, 52.48

Cameron Igou - Long Jump 12th, 19' 1.5", Triple Jump ninth, 39' 7.75", both are personal records

Cullen Becher, Ethan Becher, Igou and Maddock - 4x800 Relay fourth, 8:48.12