Steamboat Pilot & Today

The Hayden girls and boys track squads each placed fourth out of 11 teams at the Western Slope League meet held Saturday in Kremmling.

The girls placed in 12 individual events or relays, while the boys placed in eight individual events or relays.

Several Hayden athletes took advantage of the pleasant conditions and their conditioning by turning in school- or league-record times.

The 400-meter relay team of Jesse Drennan, Tyson Letlow, Kenny Gehrman and Evan Hilling posted a time of 45.01 seconds to set a new Western Slope League record in Class 2A. The same four ran a season-best time of 1:36.72 to place second in the 800-meter relay.

Junior Lauren Branstetter and the 3,200-meter relay team of Margie Jones, Chantal Gregory, Jessica Newberry and Hannah Williams set new school records Saturday. Branstetter broke her own record with a 61.8 in the 400, while the relay team, with a time of 14:14.97, broke a record of 14:25.97 that was set last year.

The four members of the relay also are throwers. Gregory placed sixth in the shot put with a throw of 29 feet, 5 inches. Jones was eighth in the shot put and the discus with throws of 29-1 and 86-4, respectively.

In addition to her second-place finish in the 400, Branstetter took second in the 200 in 29.11, third in the 100 in 13.91 and fourth in the 800 in 3:13.11. Until this season, Branstetter was a sprinter, exclusively, but she added the 800 this season and has done fairly well.

"I've put her in the 800 to increase her lung capacity," Hayden coach Kevin Kleckler said. "We've never done the 800 before because she was pretty reluctant, but she was more receptive this year."

Until a week or two ago, Branstetter had reached a plateau with her times, but as the end of the season draws near, she has begun posting finishes that indicate she's ready to make a return trip to the state meet. In Kremmling, she missed pre-qualifying in the 400 by just 0.6 seconds.

Jessica Martin also placed in four events, picking up a fifth in the 400 in 65.16, a sixth in the 200 in 29.64 and two seventh-place finishes in the 100 (14.49) and the long jump (13-1).

"She is running a 65.16 as a freshman," Kleckler said. "She is a very athletic girl."

Andrea Deepe finished fourth in the triple jump in 30-1 1/4 and placed sixth in the 100-meter hurdles (18.58) and the 300 hurdles (55.77)

Kleckler said Deepe is one of the several Hayden athletes on the bubble for state. If Deepe runs to the best of her capabilities, she has a chance to finish among the top three at this weekend's regional meet.

Jana Denker took third in the 800 in 3:12.92, and Emily Hallenbeck was sixth in the triple jump in 29-8 and eighth in the high jump after clearing 4 feet.

On the boys' side, Kleckler said throwers Keenan Bruchez and Tyson Sweetser also have a shot at the state meet if they turn in optimum efforts at regionals.

"Tyson stands a good chance, specifically in the discus," he said. "Look for him. Keenan has really been coming along in the shot put as a sophomore."

Saturday, Sweetser finished third in the shot put and discus, throwing 40-5 3/4 and 129-2 1/2, respectively.

Bruchez was fifth in the shot and discus with throws of 38-4 1/4 and 117-3 1/2, respectively.

Like Branstetter and Martin, Hilling and Drennan placed in four events, which is the maximum number of events in which an athlete can participate.

In addition to their finishes in the relays, Hilling was second in the 200 in 24.05 and third in the 100 in 11.74, while Drennan placed fifth in the triple jump with a leap of 37-11 3/4.

Letlow finished seventh in the 200 in 25.98. Teammate Tucker Overstreet was right behind Letlow, finishing eighth in 26.21.

Rounding out the Tigers' place winners was the 3,200-meter relay team of Eric Cromie, Cam Whiteman, Adam Akers and Chris Suits, who came in fourth in 9:58.59.

The West Grand girls won the league title, while the Soroco boys picked up a league title for the first time since Kleckler began coaching 11 years ago.

"I'd like to congratulate (Soroco coach) Gary Heide," Kleckler said. "(The Rams) are deserving."

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