The Frank Woodburn Invitational brought out some solid performances from Colorado's western slope.
The Frank Woodburn Invitational was a chance for some of the
Western Slope's small-school athletes to show that while their teams are tiny, their
performances are still be mighty.
Compared to last week's 25-team Mickey Dunn Invite, that featured five large Front Range squads, the 15-team meet's top performances were often by athletes that might not always make the medal stand at larger meets.
Cedaredge senior Ty Grant has made many podiums in his career, including the
team 2A state title last year. The Bruins will look to him this year as an anchor of a
repeat effort. He won the 100 (11.27) and 200 (22.76). He is the 2A leader in those
races.
The Bruins' best relay result came in a victory in the 4x2, with a 2A leading
time of 1:33.44.
Adding to the Bruin's point total was hurdler Danny Mendoza, who was runner up in
both the 110s (16.80) and 300s (42.52) behind Moffat County's Jared Atkin in both
(16.72 and (42.16).
Meeker's Gracie Bradfield was the small-school sprint star on the girls' side. She
won the 200 (26.84) and 400 (1:00.46) with performances that has her in the top
three in 2A.
The Paonia girls team has been one of the more successful small-school program from the Western Slope, and it showed Saturday. The Eagles are vying for their sixth-consecutive state title this
year. Senior
McKenna Palmer will be key in the Eagle's quest. On Saturday she won
the 100 hurdles (16.97) and the triple jump (34-10).
The Eagles also sent notice to
anyone trying to dethrone them that their relay teams will be strong. They ran the
leading 2A time in the 4x8 (10:30.07), which was also the winning time for the meet.
The distance races also had small schoolers prevail.
Plateau Valley's Rebecca Hittle and Macie Holmes led the way in the 3,200 in 13:14.98 and 13:23.20, respectively, while Cedaredge's Camie Baldozier led the entirety of the 800 and finished in 2:31.19.
Class 4A Palisade's Landon Sauvage won the boys' 3,200 in 10:35.64 and helped pull
Ouray's Cooper Rondinelli to a season best and 2A top eight time of 10:45.13.
In the 1,600, Grand
Valley's Laytham Magana and Paonia's Caden Meilner pushed the pace for a 1-2
finish in, running 4:44.71 and 4:46.59.
While there were strong small-school performances, two of the larger teams
prevailed in overall points. Class 4A Palisade boys and Montrose girls won the titles.
Palisade prevailed behind Brody Bittner's runner up in the 400 (52.81), Jacob Mattingley's triple jump win (42-09.75) and Ricardo Valenzuela's second-place
finish in the discus (130-02) and third-place in shot put (42-06).
Montrose ladies
picked up victories by way of Keli Drye in both the discus (121-10) and shot put
(35-05),
Katie Sherwood in the 300 hurdles (50.90) and Eden McGee in the long
jump (15-00.75). The Indians also won the Sprint Med. (1:57.44), 4x2 (1:50.01) and 4x4 (4:16).