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Clint Wells Invitational in Craig

Craig — Soroco High School track and field coach David Bruner said the main goal Friday was relay work.

The Rams swarmed around the Clint Wells Invitational in Craig, battling a dozen other schools and hoping to prove their 3,200-meter and girls 800 sprint medley relay teams were state worthy, and after surveying the final times and results, Bruner said that was a success.

Soroco far exceeded those meager plans Friday at the Moffat County High School meet, however, logging a boatload of top finishes and setting the stage for what it hopes are more elite performances Saturday at a meet in Kremmling.

Still, those relays accounted for some of Soroco’s best finishes.

The boys 3,200-meter relay squad with AJ Anderson, Nic Paxton, Micah Gibbons and Carl Rossi placed sixth, finishing in 9 minutes, 24.73 seconds in its first performance of the season.

The girls squad— with Josie Rossi, Jessica Rossi, Leah Walorski and Jaelyn Whaley — was third in 11:15.63.

The girls medley relay squad, with Lauryn Bruggink, Micaela Meyer, Haley Johnson and Whaley, finished third in 2 minutes, 1.67 seconds.

“I was really proud of those teams. They ran well,” Bruner said. “We’ve been a little banged up and injured, and we weren’t in good enough shape yet. But we’re getting there now. After the times they ran today, they’re looking good for state."

Elsewhere, Soroco’s athletes showed off their versatility. Meyer placed second in the 300-meter hurdles. She also was second in the long jump, logging a career-best leap of 15 feet, 9 1/2 inches.

Josie Rossi was fifth in the 3,200-meter race (at 14:12.09), sixth in the high jump (clearing 4-4) and 12th in the 1,600 (at 6:30.15).

“I’m feeling good this year, but today, I didn’t go hard enough in the (3,200) because I had some at the end,” Rossi said after sprinting to pull even and narrowly fall behind a competitor in the final 100 meters. “My favorite switches between the 3,200 and the 1,600. I like them because each is such a mental challenge.

“I’m better this year because I’m more driven. It’s my time.”

Soroco also got points from Anderson, who was seventh in the high jump.

The team is back in action at 9 a.m. Saturday at West Grand High School in Kremmling.

Haskins leads Hayden

Hayden canceled its trip to Friday’s meet, coach Richard Bush citing the weather and the school’s busy prom weekend. Several Tigers did get in on the action, however.

Aubree Haskins used the opportunity and exploded with her best performance of the season, launching the shot put 37-5 3/4 inches to win the event. That’s nearly 3 feet longer than her previous season best and 2 feet longer than the throw that won her the Class 2A state championship a year ago.

She also placed sixth in the discus.

Teammate Savannah Williams, meanwhile, was sixth in the 1,600, finishing in 6:06.07, and eighth in the 800 in 2:45.05.

To reach Joel Reichenberger, call 970-871-4253 or email jreichenberger@SteamboatToday.com