Prep track and field: DH boys, Cedar girls roll to Region 9 titles

Written by Bob Hudson
May 12, 2016
Desert Hills' Tiera Orr competes in the long jump, Region 9 Track and Field Championships, May 12, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

ST. GEORGE – Using the same formula of first-place strength and team depths, the Desert Hills boys and Cedar girls claimed the Region 9 track and field championships on Thursday.

Boys 1600 meters, Region 9 Track and Field Championships, May 12, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Boys 1600 meters, Region 9 Track and Field Championships, May 12, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

The Thunder boys had eight individual championships and got 1-2-3 sweeps in the 1600 and the shot put en route to 193 points to 110 for runner-up Cedar. Hurricane finished with 67 points, Pine View had 65, Dixie 53 and Snow Canyon 41.

Cedar’s girls won seven events, including all three relay races, and had 1-2 sweeps in the 200- and 400-meter runs. The Lady Reds finished with 198 points to 142 for Desert Hills, 74 for Dixie, 67 for Pine View, 36 for Hurricane and 24 for Snow Canyon.

Dixie’s Starlee Woodbury was the top winner as she claimed first places in the 100-meter hurdles, the 100-meters and the long jump.

“I felt way good about today,” Woodbury said, after anchoring the Flyer 4×100-meter relay team to a third-place finish. “I PR’ed (set personal records) in all my single events.”

Cedar’s Julia Hunt and Desert Hills’ Kaylee Carter were also double winners among the girls. Hunt won the 200 and the 400, edging her twin sister Rachel in each race. Carter was the champion in the javelin and the 300-meter hurdles.

Desert Hills' Ryan Eror competes in the high Jump, Region 9 Track and Field Championships, May 12, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Desert Hills’ Ryan Eror competes in the high Jump, Region 9 Track and Field Championships, May 12, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

Bradley Earl of Desert Hills was the only double winner among the boys. He won the 200 and the 400.

“The most important thing is you have to stay on top of what you’re doing between races,” Earl said of his winning formula. He said he sought out the shade and paid attention to his eating and drinking schedules.

“Our young kids did really well,” noted Desert Hills boys coach Dace Goulding. “We had a sophomore place second or third in the mile and the 3200; some great seniors, too.”

Bryson King was that sophomore distance runner; Tate Denos was the freshman hurdler and the high jumper was Tyler Marz.

Thunder winners included Jaiden Melendez in the 1600, Nick Warmsley in the javelin, Justice Alo in the shot put, Ryan Eror in the high jump, Chanse Riding in the discus, Zak Fuchs in the 300-meter hurdles and Earl with his two wins.

“I’ve been impressed with Reagan Hulet with a school record in the discus; our 4×100-relay ran well and Morgan Meyers placed third in the long jump,” said Cedar girls coach Josh Bennett.

“That 400 and 200 really helped us,” Bennett said of the Hunt sisters’ twin sweep.

The other Cedar winner was Whitney Yardley in the 800.

Next up is the Class 3A state meet at BYU on May 20 and 21. Desert Hills’ boys and girls are the defending champions.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bob Hudson is a graduate of Brigham Young University. He has been a sportswriter in central and southern Utah and Southeast Idaho. He has also worked as a news editor and managing editor. He has lived in St. George since 2000.

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