Steamboat Pilot & Today

Senior Alan Stark set a new school record in the discus at the Phelan Alexander Invitational in Vail on April 26, breaking a 35-year-old mark.

Stark's throw of 131 feet, 2 1/2 inches moved him past Gordon Dowling in the record books. Dowling set the previous record of 129-10 in 1968.

Stark, nicknamed Bubba, finished first in the meet; the next closest competitor was 8 feet off Stark's toss.

"Bubba has improved so much in one season," Kleckler said. "Last year, he didn't even come out. Coach (Leif) Jacobsen has been working with him, and he continues to get better."

At the beginning of the season, Stark threw around 105 feet. On April 26, he broke the 130-foot mark.

Stark also came in second in the shot put April 26. Teammate Kelly Bruchez took first with a throw of 43-4 3/4.

The two continue to refine their technique under the watch of Jacobsen and Kleckler.

This year, seven assistants, including Jacobsen, are helping coach the Hayden track team.

The additional coaches have allowed Kleckler to focus more attention on the shot putters without ignoring the other members of the team. In past years, he and middle school coach Sally Brach-Morton have done all the coaching.

"We have coaches everywhere and the beneficiary of that is the athlete," Kleckler said.

Barb Manzanaras, Phyllis Johnson, Brian Incitti, Greg Richards and Rod Richards, along with Jacobsen and Brach-Morton, are working with Kleckler this season.

As teams, the boys and girls each took fifth at the Phelan Alexander Invitational.

Kleckler said the Tigers were posting great times and could have finished higher, but members had to leave by noon to return home and get ready for prom.

Despite the early exit by many athletes, the Tigers had some top finishes.

Evan Hilling ran an 11.26-second race for second in the 100 meters and continues to impress Kleckler.

"I'm starting to convince myself he's a sprinter," Kleckler said. "He never had a chance to do anything last year. His sprint times were not noticeable, and now they are."

Samantha Schoeberl, Jaclyn Etzler and Lauren Branstetter finished second, fourth and sixth, respectively, in the 100 meters.

Schoeberl ran her fastest time of the season, a 12.73.

The 800-meter relay team of Branstetter, Schoeberl, Etzler and Andrea Deepe came in third.

The 800-medley relay team of Justine Bedell, Branstetter, Schoeberl and Etzler finished third as well.

Kayla Kostur finished second in the long jump, third in the high jump and won the triple jump. She is 6 inches off the school record in the triple jump.

"At the beginning of the season she didn't do this because her hamstring was really hurting," Kleckler said. "Now, everything's good and we are really pushing it and going for it."

Robin Cless took fifth in the triple jump. Margie Jones came in third in the shot put and Mariah Doolin finished sixth in the high jump, rounding out the girls' results.

Individually for the boys, Keenan Bruchez finished fifth in the 110 hurdles and fourth in the triple jump.

Hayden returns to the track Saturday for its league meet in Kremmling.

The Hayden girls have a shot at winning the league title. The boys will have a chance to post a top finish as well, though West Grand will be tough to beat, Kleckler said.

"Going into this league weekend we are very excited and hopefully we can peak at the right time," he said.

-- To reach Melinda Mawdsley call 871-4208 or e-mail mmawdsley@steamboatpilot.com