Shelley Invitational brings big crowds

SHELLEY:  Shelley track team made a strong showing in several events at the Shelley Invitational held last Friday, April 23. 

The boy’s relay teams were on fire last Friday as Shelley hosted 16 schools from around eastern Idaho. For the 3^rd week in a row, Ryker Clinger, Treyce Jensen, Jace Thatcher, and Brayden Johnson took 1^st in the 4 x 200 with a season-best time – 1:31.98.

The 4 x 100 relay team also pulled off a 1^st place win with a time of 44.56. These sprinters are Ryker Clinger, Treyce Jensen, Zaine Dixon, and Brayden Johnson.

Jace Thatcher also had an impressive day at the 400-meter race taking 1^st place, with his personal best time of 51.08. He is one of the fastest Shelley athletes, and he proved Friday again that he could stand on the podium at State.    

Reese Callahan also continues to impress the crowd. She placed in the top 8 in all of her events. In the 10- meter hurdles, Callahan took 5^th with a personal best time of 16.65. In the 300-meter hurdles, she walked away with a 3^rd place title with a time of 51.47.

In the long jump, Callahan once again broke her personal-best record. She took 6^th place with a distance of 15’9.5″.  Look for Callahan at Districts and State as she appears to be on the climb for a perfect peak.

In the 200-meter race, Thatcher, Johnson, and Clinger ran a tight race. Week after week, it’s a guess who pulls out a lead.  This week, Thatcher took 4^th place at 24.02 seconds, Clinger took 5^th place with 24.04 seconds, and Johnson took 6^th place at a time of 24.08.

Clinger and Johnson also ran the 100-meter race.  Clinger took an impressive 3^rd place win with 11.81 seconds.

 Johnson, however, had a falling-down moment. “I ran my worst race in the 100 today. My blocks slipped back at the beginning, and I couldn’t focus after that,” Johnson said.

But Johnson is a powerful athlete for Shelley.  Watch for him to shake off the demons for next week’s all-important Tiger-Grizz. 

 “I realized that even if everything doesn’t go right, I have to try and get my head back in the game.  Today that I didn’t. Next week is a new week,” Johnson said.

In the boy’s 400-meter race, Canyon Allphin took 8^th with a personal best time of 54.64, and Rebekah Frew also took 8^th in the girls 400 with a personal best time of 1:06.96.

Savannah Ivins took 6^th place in the 800-meter race, with a personal best of 2:30.90. She has steadily progressed all season long, shaving off a whopping 13 seconds off her time. 

The girl’s 4 x 200 relay team took an impressive 2^nd place with a time of1:55.56.  

Shantell Christensen, Michela Moulton, Brooke Hess, and Sabina Keenan ran hard made good handoffs, which all paid off.

“We have been training hard, and taking second place today was pretty exciting, “Brooke Hess said

Zaine Dixon was all smiles after competing in his event. He has been practicing hard all season and had a goal of jumping over 19 feet his Senior year. On Friday, he accomplished his goal and a bit more. Zaine took 6^th place in the long jump with a distance of 19’1.5″.  Dixon said, “About time!”

Shot put thrower Tessa Smith has been getting a personal best week after week, and she pulled it off again this week, taking 3^rd place with a personal best distance of 34’7″.

Madison Lempka took 1^st place in the high jump with 5’2″. Madison works hard and is also the top leader in Idaho’s 4A for the high jump. Next week travels to the Tiger Grizz Invitational held Friday, May 30at 3 pm, at Ravesten Stadium next to Idaho Falls High School.  This 2-day event is the precursor for who gets the dance card to State, which is less than 4-weeks away.