Despite low numbers, Lovell boys strong at Buffalo

The Lovell Bulldogs had somewhat of a limited roster competing at the Jerry Campbell Invitational in Buffalo Friday with some athletes missing the Good Friday meet due to the Easter holiday and spring break.

Those who attended, however, turned in some outstanding performances.

“We knew it was spring break and that some families would be doing things,” coach Joshua Sanders said. “Worland was in the same boat. They had about half of their team there.

“It was another opportunity for kids to prequalify and compete. A lot of kids were looking forward to it.”

It was an uneven day for weather, Sanders noted.

“It was off and on,” he said. “Sometimes it would rain or snow, and in the next half hour it would be sunny and steaming off the track, and you’d have to take your coat off.”

Among the highlights Friday was the performance of sophomore Matthew Newman, who placed in three events. Newman won the 800 meters, cruising the two laps in a personal record time of 2:04.83.

“He went against some pretty good competition and was really good,” Sanders said. “He didn’t even seem tired afterwards.”

Newman placed sixth in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.09, and he placed second in the high jump, clearing 5-10 while competing in the event for the first time.

“It was good (for his first time),” Sanders said. “If it wasn’t wet he probably would have cleared 6 feet.”

Junior Gavin Robertson had a strong day. He won the 100-meter dash in a personal record time of 11.73, just 6/100ths of a second off the prequalification time (11.67).

“He’s mentally dialed in and looks really explosive,” Sanders said. “He wants to do well. He’s focused in practice and wants to do the right things technique wise.”

Also strong in Buffalo was senior Adnan Khan, who won two events and placed in three. Khan won the triple jump and prequalified for State with a leap of 41-7½ and improved by more than a foot from the Cody meet in the long jump, hitting the pit in 20-¾ to win the event.

“He had some technique issues that needed to be fixed,” Sanders said. “He hadn’t been jumping underneath his hips, his center of mass.”

Robertson placed second in the long jump, sailing 19-4¾, and freshman Dean Anderson improved by three feet from Cody in the event, hitting the sand in 16-11. Freshman Nate Cornia placed fifth in the triple jump, leaping 36-11½, two feet further than his Cody jump.

Khan also placed fifth in the 100-meter dash, crossing the finish line in 11.98.

Senior AJ Clark placed seventh in the 1,600 meters, running a time of 5:13.01, and junior Stetson Asay set a personal record in the 3,200, placing fourth in 11:36.48, a 14-second improvement over his time at Cody.

“In distance running, if there’s not a level of excitement, that’s a problem,” Sanders said. “Stetson seems excited to go run and see what he can do.”

After running the 110-meter hurdles the previous week in Cody, freshman Kaeson Anderson tried the 300-meter low hurdles this week, placing fifth in 46.15.

“That’s a good race for him,” Sanders said. “I think he’ll progress and excel in that event.”

Kaeson Anderson also placed sixth in the high jump by clearing 5-6.

The quartet of Jacob Thomas, Thane Zollman, Damian Wagner and Asay placed second in the 3,200-meter relay, running a time of 10:00.71.

Junior Taggart Shumway won the pole vault, clearing 11 feet, and Talon Burton tied for second with a personal record vault of 9-6.

“Taggart and Talon are doing a good job planting the pole correctly and taking off,” Sanders said.

Sophomore Halen Strom had a strong day throwing. He placed second in the shot put with a personal record toss of 41 feet, and he also placed second in the discus, earning another PR at 123-3.

“Halen is our male athlete of the week,” Sanders said. “He was throwing really well. He’s been working at it.”

Despite low numbers, the Bulldogs placed third in Buffalo with 122 points, trailing only Buffalo (141 points) and Worland (123).

Other Lovell boys results in Buffalo were:

100m dash – Kaeson Anderson 10th, 12.58, Nate Cornia 15th, 13.06, Parker Anderson tie for 17th, 13.14, Taggart Shumway tie for 17th, 13.14 (PR), Talon Burton 21st, 13.29, Dean Anderson 25th, 13.85, Robert Capers 30th, 14.32; 800 meters, Burton 14th, 2:30.84; 1,600 meters – Jacob Thomas 10th, 5:32.15, Damian Wagner 14th, 5:56.80, Thane Zollman 16th, 6:04.88, Jaxen Clark 19th, 6:38.19; long jump – Capers 20th, 13-12, Parker Anderson 23rd, 11-3; high jump – Gavin Robertson 11th, 5-4, Parker Anderson 12th, 5-2; shot put – Tazz McArthur 10th, 31-2 (PR), Sam Cordova 12th, 31-2 (PR); discus – Dean Anderson ninth, 88-9 (PR), McArthur 10th, 88-3, Cordova 12th, 85-5.

Girls results

The Lady Bulldogs were missing several athletes due to spring break Friday. Freshman Brooklin Clark placed sixth in two hurdles races, running the 100-meter intermediate hurdles in 19.41 and the 300-meter low hurdles in 55.35. She also placed fifth in the long jump, recording a top jump of 14-7.

Sanders said Clark will continue to improve in the hurdles events.

“She’s still trying to figure out how to accelerate out of the blocks and jump over the first hurdle the way she wants to,” Sanders said.

Senior Hallie Cornia placed fifth in the triple jump at 30-½, and Sanders said he was pleased to see her eclipse the 30-foot mark. Coaches named Cornia the female athlete of the week. Senior Sadie Wassmer jumped 29-1½, good for seventh place.

Senior Carissa Lindsay won the shot put with a toss of 32-2½, and freshman sister Celeste placed sixth at 28-5. Three placed in the discus, Carissa second at 102-4, Celeste sixth at 91-8 and Haley Sanders seventh at 83-10.

The Lovell girls placed fourth in Buffalo with 42 points, trailing Buffalo, Worland and Sundance.

Other Lovell girls results in Buffalo were:

100m dash – Hallie Cornia 19th, 15.28; long jump – Celeste Lindsay ninth, 14-½, Cornia 18th, 12-1½, Jaelen Mayes 22nd, 11-2¼; shot put – Haley Sanders 13th, 23-1.

The Bulldogs will travel to Worland today (Thursday) for the D&D Invitational. The meet was originally scheduled for Saturday, but due to possible inclement weather moving into the area, the meet was moved up two days, Sanders said. Field events begin at 1:30 p.m., running events at 3 p.m.

Next up is the L.A. Kohnke Invitational in Powell on Saturday,
April 13.