The Red Devil boys and girls track teams competed at the San Juan County Invitational on Tuesday, April 8 in Blanding, the Cortez Invitational on Wednesday, April 9 in Cortez, Colo., and the Farm Bureau Invitational on Saturday, April 12 in Price.
The Red Devil boys were shorthanded in both Blanding and Price, but still managed to finish second to host San Juan on Tuesday and finish third – first among 2A schools – on Saturday.
Seniors Andy Bathemess and Wade Kemmsies provided much of the scoring for Grand in Price, scoring 40 of the team’s 56 points as Bathemess placed second and Kemmsies placed third in the 110-meter hurdles with times of 15.75 and 16.32; in the 300-meter hurdles, Bathemess (39.43) and Kemmsies (39.63) were the top two runners; and Bathemess and Kemmsies, along with senior Jordan Bryant and junior Mason Tranter, took second place in the 4×400-meter relay with a time of 3:36.19.
Kemmsies placed first in both hurdle events in Blanding on Tuesday, running a 16.10 in the 110-meter hurdles and a 40.66 in the 300-meter hurdles. Byrant won the 400 meters in Blanding with a 53.57, just ahead of Tranter, who ran a 53.71; Bryant also finished third in the 110-hurdles. Byrant, Tranter, Bathemess and sophomore Garrett Brown teamed up to win the medley relay with a 3:51.83.
Senior Jackson Knowles also made his presence felt in Blanding, winning the 200-meters with a 23.35, winning the 1600-meters with a 4:45.98 and placing third in the 800 meters with a 2:11.85; Tranter placed second in the event with a 2:11.39. Seniors David Bentley (41 feet, 1 inch) and Trevor Bertuzzi (5 feet, 10 inches) turned in state-qualifying performances in the shot put and high jump, each placing fourth.
The Lady Red Devils soundly bested the rest of the field at the San Juan County Invitational on Tuesday, April 8 in Blanding, scoring 202 points, nearly double that of second-place Emery, which scored 108. Grand finished fifth – first among 2A schools – at the Farm Bureau Invitational in Price on Saturday, April 12.
Senior Mercedes James provided a scoring spark for Grand on Tuesday, winning the 800 and 1600-meter races. Senior Tiffanie Whipple was victorious in the 100-meter hurdles. Senior Madi Stocks placed first in the discus and second in the shot put. Junior Kasey Betts, competing in her first meet all season because of injury, won the high jump, qualifying for state at 5 feet, 2 inches.
Sophomore Kwincey Wells placed second in both the 100 and 200 meter races; Senior Malina Bohannon was third in the 100 and senior Haley Rice was third in the 200; Bohannon also placed third in the javelin while sophomore Hannah Rice placed fourth. Freshman Jayelen Knowles placed second in the 3200-meters and third in the 1600-meters.
The Lady Red Devils also won the 4×100 (Bohannon, Haley Rice, Wells and senior Shailee Croasmun) and the medley relay (Knowles, Hannah Rice, Haley Rice and freshman Megan Pfinister).
Grand’s only event wins in Price on Saturday came in the 4×100 (Bohannon, Haley Rice, Croasmun and sophomore Talaunee Croasmun) and the discus, which Stocks won with a 109-foot, 3-inch throw, 13 feet, 3 inches farther than anyone else.
The Grand County track and field teams are scheduled to travel to Blanding again for the Blue Mountain Championships on Saturday, April 26, beginning at 9 a.m.
Lady Red Devils dominate field at San Juan invite
