GRAND JUNCTION - With four other Western Slope offerings and the allure of Front-Range finales, the Grand Junction Tiger Invitational had plenty of competition to draw teams this year. Despite several split squads and traditional attendees teams taking their talents elsewhere, the Tiger still managed produce some big marks to shake up the standings the final weekend before the Big Show at Jeffco Stadium next week.
Home Sweet Home, One More Time
The four Grand Junction schools (five counting upstart Caprock Academy) stayed loyal to their local meet and kept their top athletes at home.
One of the local stars was Palisade's Zaccre Kenward, who as documented by Alan Versaw at the end of April, can compete with the big dogs wherever he competes. At the Tiger, Kenward did not try to improve his Class 4A triple jump and had an off day in the long jump finishing sixth (20-5), but he added a fifth individual event to his state-qualifying resume with a 49.50 in the prelims of the 400. His declaration day will be an interesting one to watch to see which of the five events Kenward with participate in - he also won the 100 in 11.28, .15 off of his lifetime best that has him 14th in his class.
Grand Junction's Tia Wright has consistently dominated the horizontal jumps at Stocker this year. She finished her senior campaign by tying her lifetime best of 35-11 in the triple jump, coming half an inch from her best in the long jump (16-8). She also showed off the vertical with a win in the high jump (5-2). Her triple jump effort should earn her a trip to state where she will also high jump, in which she is currently tied with three others (including teammate Megan King) for the best jump of the season at 5-5.