Steamboat Pilot & Today

Soroco track and field coach Gary Heide likes to see athletes who don't usually place have the opportunity to shine.

On Saturday, young runners as well as those who have given several years to the Rams' program recorded top-three finishes as individuals or on relay teams at the Eagle Valley Invitational.

Several of Soroco's top runners were absent Saturday, giving those who practice just as hard the chance to step in. The Rams didn't crown any champions, but they did have several runners-up.

Tony Iacovetto was second in the open 400 meters with a time of 55.27 seconds.

"I know that was close to a 54 on a still day," Heide said. "It was a really windy, cold day."

Iacovetto also placed sixth in the 100 in 11.59.

Nick Rangel was second in the shot put, throwing 42 feet, 10 inches, beating his personal record by more than a foot.

The girls 800-meter relay team of Melissa Roy, Nichole Wilson, Toni Lombardi and Karli Babcock was second in 1:53.45. The 3,200-meter relay team of Glenda Long, Bailey Carrell, Colleen Treanor and Nicole Martin was third in 12:08.90.

Treanor also placed fourth in the 3,200 meters.

The quartet of Roy, Wilson, Jenny Block and Babcock teamed up to take fourth in the 400-meter relay, and the boys 1,600-meter relay team of Johnny DeCosta, Steve Meade, Zach Shaffner and Iacovetto took fourth, as well.

Wilson and Babcock were sixth in the 200 and 400, respectively. Kieran Corrigan finished sixth in the 1,600 meters, running a personal best time of 5:07.45, for the boys. He also was eighth in the 3,200.

Teammates Lucas Sullivan, Meade, Iacovetto and Rangel teamed up to place sixth in the 800-meter relay.

The 800-meter sprint medley and the 1,600-meter relay teams finished seventh for the Soroco girls. Roy, Wilson, Mindy McElroy and Vanessa Eaton ran the sprint medley. Long, Eaton, Lombardi and Carrell ran the 1,600-meter relay.

Tyler Kelly, DeCosta, Sullivan and Aaron Corporan were part of Soroco's seventh-place 400-meter relay team.

Andy deGanahl, Matt Iac--ovetto and Kyla Schmidt did not run in Eagle Valley. Heide expects all three to be ready to compete this week, but he was pleased with the effort turned in by several Soroco athletes running as part of the top relays.

"They certainly deserve the chance to run," Heide said. "They have been working extremely hard and always are working hard in practices and meets. They do deserve a chance to get a medal and a ribbon."

Soroco is scheduled to take part in the North Park Invitational today in Craig before traveling to the Demon Invitational hosted by Glenwood Springs on Saturday.