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Keenan Bruchez qualifies for state in discus

First meet shows some great results

Melinda Mawdsley

Kevin Kleckler is a veteran coach, but even he hasn’t encountered training conditions such as those experienced during February and March.

The Hayden track and field team opened the season April 1 at the Joe Shields Invitational, hosted by West Grand. It was only the second time this season that the Tigers had seen a track.

“I told the kids, in my 13 years of coaching, because of the weather we’ve had, that we were probably the most unprepared that I can remember a team of mine being for the first track meet,” Kleckler said.



Hayden used the Moffat County High School track for practice March 29. The Tigers have been running on pavement and grass and working out indoors.

Poor conditions didn’t affect several of Hayden’s athletes.



Keenan Bruchez, a 2005 state qualifier, qualified for the 2006 Class 2A State Track and Field Championships with a discus throw of 137 feet, 2 inches to place fourth in Kremmling.

Tyson Sweetser, also a 2005 state qualifier, was fifth in the discus, but he won the shot put, throwing 46-10 1/2 in West Grand.

Bruchez also took second in the triple jump and third in the 110-meter hurdles. Bruchez is experimenting with new events this season.

“He exhibited some unbelievable triple jumping,” Kleckler said about Bruchez’s 41-6 1/4 leap in Kremmling. “I think he’ll improve, hopefully, immensely.”‘

Bruchez wasn’t the only triple jumper to make an impression. Freshman Kylee Sweetser jumped 32-3 1/2, placing second in the triple jump for the girls. Her finish was the girls’ highest of the day.

The girls placed ninth out of 13 teams. Without a senior, the leaders of this year’s team are juniors Jessica Martin, Emily Whiteman and Kyla Beard.

“I have a young team,” Kleckler said.

The boys placed sixth out of 13 teams and were led by seniors Bruchez and Sweetser, but Hayden got other great efforts in West Grand.

Senior Tyson Letlow took third in the 200-meter dash in 24.90 seconds. He also was fifth in the 100. Tyson Letlow teamed up with Russell Waugh, Bruchez and Coy Letlow to take fourth in the 400-meter relay. Waugh also placed fourth in the long jump.

Hayden is back on the track at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Eagle Valley Invitational in Gypsum.


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