TORRINGTON – The three local high schools only have a few invitationals under their belts this season, but that has not stopped several athletes from prequalifying for the state meet.
Torrington
Although the Blazers have only had one invitational this season, not including the Mitchell, Neb. Invite on Thursday after press time, Torrington had four boys performances that were good enough to earn a spot at the state meet.
Bryan Lemmon had a solid day at the Binfield Invite, qualifying in two separate events. His time of 15.92 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles, as well as his 6-foot, 2-inch effort in the high jump, both prequalified him for Casper. He is one of two 3A boys to qualifying in the 110-meter hurdles and one of four high-jumpers prequalified.
Nathaniel Woodruff is the only 3A boy who has prequalified for the shot put, with his mark of 47 feet, 3.5 inches punching his ticket to the state meet.
In relays, Aaron Borger, Cameron Juma, Josh Posten and Matthew Garcia combined to post a time of 8:35.97 in the 3200-meter relay, making them one of two teams already qualified.
Lingle-Fort Laramie
In the first meet of the season for the Lady Doggers (Binfield Invitational), Kaelyn Riley laid down some fast times on the track, posting qualifying times in the 100-meter dash (13.14 seconds) and the 200 (27.48 seconds). Both of her times are the fastest among the three 100-meter qualifiers and five 200-meter qualifiers.
Also at the Binfield Invite in Scottsbluff, Neb., Savannah Mirich recorded a throw of 32 feet, 7 inches in the shot put, putting her in the lead of the four 1A girls who have already prequalified for the state meet.
The Lady Doggers have managed to put together strong relay teams, with prequalified teams in each of the three relays. Kaylan Maez, Jordyn Gaspers, Shelby Heilbrun and Kaelyn Riley ran the 400-meter relay in 57.12 seconds to be one of three teams to meet the prequalifying standard.
At the Bayard, Neb. CD Invite, Maez, Heilbrun, Jenna Kaufman and Jenny Manus ran the 1600-meter relay in 4:56.80. Kaufman, Heilbrun and Manus were joined by Cora Frederick in Bayard for the 3200-meter relay, clocking a time of 11:55.38. Both of those marks surpassed the prequalifying time needed. The Lady Doggers are the only 1A girls team to have a team prequalified in either the 1600- or 3200-meter relay.
Like the Lady Doggers, the L-FL boys have met six prequalifying standards so far this spring. Landen Fuller posted the fastest times among all prequalifiers in both the 400 (51.42 seconds) and 800 (2:03.42).
Cole Shepardson’s time of 43.70 seconds in the 300-meter hurdles, which he ran at the Binfield Invite, earned him a spot in Casper. Rhett Greenwald rounded out the individual competitors by clearing 11 feet, 1 inch in the pole vault and he is the only 1A boy to be prequalified so far this season.
Fuller, Greenwald, Hayden Hill and Clay Colton ran the 400-meter relay in 48.18 seconds in Bayard, which was better than the prequalifying standard. Fuller and Shepardson were also joined by Kelly Peterson and Gaven Niles for the 1600-meter relay in Scottsbluff, recording a time of 3:43.45. L-FL is the only team with a prequalified foursome in the 1600-meter relay among 1A boys teams.
