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Badger Track: District Meet, many Badgers
qualify for State |
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May 13, 2015 |
by Tyler Warner
BFHS Assistant Track Coach
One last time the Badger track team made the
journey to the Timberlake track for the Idaho
District 1 3A Championship. At the two day event
last Thursday and Friday, Badger athletes
competed for the chance to earn a trip to state
and in many cases for one final chance at a
personal best time. In order to qualify for
state, the top three finishers in individual
events would be allowed to go. Only the top
finishers in the relays would be guaranteed a
berth to state.
Thursdays events moved along quickly. With few
enough athletes to run prelims in most cases,
the only finals were in the throwing events,
relays, jumps, and the 3200m. In the 3200 Senior
Tucker Cavender accomplished a long-time goal—an
individual berth to state in track. Tucker ran a
career best 10:58 to claim third place. “Tucker
has put in so much offseason work for this
opportunity,” said distance coach Tyler Warner.
Not far behind Tucker was junior Nolan Stidham
who also ran a PR 11:01. “We expect big things
from Nolan next year,” Warner said.
On Thursday, first year vaulter Victoria Smith
came in third in the pole vault by clearing 8
feet. Moments later Senior Kendra Urbaniak
cleared 8-06 to take second place. “Kendra had
to muscle her way in, she worked really hard
today,” said Coach Hays. Sophomore vaulter Jill
Alexander did not qualify for state, but
finished her season with PRs in the pole vault
(7’) and the 100m (15.97).
 The
races of the day came in the sprint medleys. The
girls medley, with strong performances all
season, got a strong challenge from Timberlake
and other IML teams that attempted new
combinations with hopes of knocking off the Lady
Badgers. Natasha Webster, Kendra Urbaniak, and
Mackenzie Mendenhall gave Jordan Young the baton
with a slight lead. In the last 400m Timberlake
closed the gap and attempted to make a move on
the corner with 150m to go. “Jordan did a smart
thing by taking the inside and forcing them to
go around the outside,” said Hays. “That could
be a 5 meter advantage right there. Effort was
huge too.” Coming down the stretch Jordan
battled with Timberlake’s Taylor Hammond, going
back and forth all the way. With only a few
strides left, Jordan finally pulled away and
secured the gold and a trip to state. “I’m so
proud of Jordan, she did so awesome,” Mackenzie
Mendenhall said afterward. The teams final time
was 1:59.62.
In the boys medley the Badgers looked to knock
off the strong Priest River team. With a last
minute change in the line-up, Bonners Ferry saw
an opportunity to surprise Priest River, but so
did Timberlake. Bonners Ferry hit the splits
coaches expected early on, but Priest River and
Timberlake’s early legs had opened up a gap.
When Jacob Perkins took the baton for the 800m
leg, he was in third and nearly 90m behind
second. “Coaches timed me at a 55 second first
lap,” said Perkins. With a smile and a shrug he
said “I had some ground to make up.” With that
power lap Perkins made up a lot of ground. Jacob
caught Timberlake’s Brayden Menti in the last
300m and was coming up on Priest River’s Josh
Marks. The 55 second lap proved draining,
however, and Jacob was not quite able to make up
the distance. In spite of finishing second with
a 3:51.31, the time did qualify Warren Carle,
Isaac Lavala, Jack Wade, and Jacob Perkins for
an at-large berth to state.
Friday featured more berths to state and many
personal bests among sprinters. Louis Balcaen
achieved season best marks in the 100m and 200m
races. Anthony Bernert achieved a best time in
the 200m and Erin Brewington also sprinted to
her best finish in the 100m. Ryan Mason, Malachi
Rivkin, CJ McCulla, and Karla Horton also
achieved season bests in their respective
events. Although they did not qualify for state,
the improvements from them and others is
encouraging to coaches.
Two throwers joined the growing list of Badgers
going to state. Jack Wade, who earlier qualified
in the boys sprint medley, tossed a personal
best 126-04 in the discus to claim second place.
For the ladies a short distance away at the shot
put pit, freshman Haley Wenk claimed second
place with a throw of 31-02.
Natasha Webster, a member of the girls medley
team, punched her ticket by taking 3rd in the
200m. Also qualifying was Warren Carle who had
to run a season best 44.48 in the 300 hurdles to
claim 3rd. Fellow hurdler Mackenzie Mendenhall
won both the 100m and a season best 48.30 in the
300m hurdles. Mackenzie will go into state the
top seed in both with the coveted lane 4 spot.
“She ran solid,” said Hays. “Her form was spot
on.” Mackenzie also qualified in the long jump
and girls sprint medley.
In the 800m races Jacob Perkins ran a 2:04 to
claim first, but the surprise came from the
battle for second
 place.
Senior Chase Dinning came down the stretch
battling Priest River’s Josh Marks, a constant
top finisher. Chase’s previous best had been a
2:11, but with a chance for a state trip at
risk, Chase dropped his time to an impressive
2:07 and outduelling Josh Marks to do it. “Coach
Hays actually told Chase earlier in the week,
‘why not run a 2:08?’ and he stepped up,” said
Coach Warner. “Chase really impressed us and for
him to get second is huge. I’m really excited
for him and proud of his effort.” Freshman
Jordan Young in the women’s race did equally
well and ran a 2:34 to second place.
In the boys pole vault Isaac Lavala punched his
ticket with a second place vault of 11-06. He
has continued to improve his technique through
the season and once vaulted 12 feet in his first
year vaulting. “He’s gained a lot of confidence.
It’s quite the accomplishment as a first year
vaulter,” said Coach Hays.
While many Badgers can take pride in a season
well done, for the twelve athletes who qualified
the season rolls on. The state qualifiers will
leave for the 3A Idaho State Championships at
Middleton High School Thursday morning.
Competition starts Friday morning and will
finish on Saturday.
Results
Men’s
100m prelims
10. Louis Balcaen 13.66
11. Anthony Bernert 14.20
12. Ryan Mason 14.41
13. Bryce Nelson
200m finals
7. Nikolous Bertling 26.02
12. Alex Urbaniak 27.32
13. Louis Balcaen 28.05
14. Anthony Bernert 30.35
400m finals
5. Jacob Perkins 55.38
11. Ryan Mason 1:02.64
800m finals
1. Jacob Perkins 2:05.69
2. Chase Dinning 2:07.86
6. Malachi Rivkin 2:16.65
19. Anton Dorn 3:22.88
1600m finals
3. Jacob Perkins 4:57.09
5. Nolan Stidham 5:03.25
6. Tucker Cavender 5:12.37
7. Malachi Rivkin 5:18.55
8. Dawson Thomas 5:18.98
10. Alva Swanson 5:26.89
11. Nick Magdaleno 5:38.55
17. Brad Corson 5:50.36
3200m finals
3. Tucker Cavender 10:58
4. Nolan Stidham 11:01
6. Alva Swanson 11:39
8. Dawson Thomas 11:48
11. Brad Corson 12:36
13. Nick Magdaleno 12:58
300m hurdles finals
3. Warren Carle 44.48
7. Brad Corson 55.12
4x100 Relay finals
4. Urbaniak, Bernert, Mason, Balcaen 52.24
4x200 Relay finals
4. Bertling, Dinning, Carle, Lavala 1:43.48
4x400 Relay finals
4. Urbaniak, Wade, Balcaen, Dinning 4:11.13
Sprint Medley 2-2-4-8 finals
2. Carle, Lavala, Wade, Perkins 3:51.31
Shot Put finals
7. Evan Ellis 37-07
10. CJ McCulla 33-10.5
11. Jack Wade 33-05.5
15. Jeffrey Abraham 31-09.5
Discus finals
2. Jack Wade 126-04
5. CJ McCulla 120-08
7. 103-05
11. Jeffrey Abraham 89-08
Pole Vault finals
3. Isaac Lavala 11-06
6. Alex Urbaniak 9-06
Long Jump finals
11. Nikolous Bertling 16-01.5
12. Joseph Swanson 14-05.5
14. Brad Corson 13-05.5
15. Bryce Nelson 13-02.5
. . . . . .
. . .
Women’s
100m finals
3. Natasha Webster 14.16
7. Karla Horton 15.47
100m prelims
2. Natasha Webster 13.85
7. Karla Horton 14.99
8. Amanda Bauer 15.33
9. Shaylee Ellson 15.37
12. Jill Alexander 15.97
14. Erin Brewington 17.69
200m Finals
4. Natasha Webster 29.5
5. Anjolena Tucker 30.32
8. Karla Horton 32.05
200m prelims
4. Natasha Webster 29.19
5. Anjolena Tucker 29.93
8. Karla Horton 31.68
11. Erin Brewington 38.69
800m Finals
2. Jordan Young 2:34.9
8. Sophia Claphan 3:55.45
1600m Finals
5. Hannah Lysne 6:22.96
10. Sophia Claphan 9:02.09
3200m Finals
4. Hannah Lysne 13:57.19
100m Hurdles Finals
1. Mackenzie Mendenhall 16.83
300m Hurdles Finals
1. Mackenzie Mendenhall 48.30
4x100 Relay Finals
3. Ellson, Bauer, Horton, Tucker 57.05
4x200 Relay Finals
2. Tucker, Urbaniak, Horton, Webster 2:00.36
Sprint Medley Relay 1-1-2-4
1. Urbaniak, Webster, Mendenhall, Young 1:59.62
Shot Put Finals
3. Haley Wenk 31-02.5
9. Olivia Whittaker 26-03
Discus Finals
5. Breanna Copeland 84-11
7. Haley Wenk 82-03
9. Olivia Whittaker 78-03
High Jump Finals
4. Victoria Smith 4-00
Pole Vault Finals
2. Kendra Urbaniak 8-06
3. Victoria Smith 8-00
5. Jill Alexander 7-00
Long Jump
2. Mackenzie Mendenhall 15-05
5. Shaylee Ellson 12-11
6. Anjolena Tucker 12-09
7. Victoria Smith 11-07
8. Amanda Bauer 11-02
Triple Jump
5. Shaylee Ellson 27-05
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