by James Tate
Ben Lomond High School hosted the 2023 annual track meet, showcasing a great atmosphere and setting for the athletes. College-committed track stars participants included Colby Anderson of Roy High School (Weber St.), Eden DeVries of Weber High School (Weber St.), and Amare Harlan of Fremont High School (University of Michigan). New stars shined and are ready to make their mark in the upcoming region and state championship meets.
Girl’s distance events
photo of Ogden’s Kaitlyn Blackham
The meet started with the girl’s 3200m and Ogden High School junior Kaitlyn Blackham winning easily with a time of 11:54.92. Blackham would dominate the distance events, winning the 3200m, 1600m, and 800m events. Blackham’s winning time in the 1600m was 5:29.07, and in the 800m, she crossed the line at 2:30.31.
Blackburn has previously qualified for the state meet in the 1600m and 3200m events. “I went into the races knowing I had a chance of winning,” said Blackham. “And I was going to be pushed hard because the girls here are really great.” “I am thankful for my coaches and teammates,” said Blackham. “I have been training hard, looking forward to this, and trying to get up for this for years.” “I am looking forward to the region and would love to win in the 3200m and 1600m,” said Blackham. “And in the state, there are a lot of fast girls in 3A, and I am looking forward to competing against them, and I really want to medal at state.”
Boy’s distance events
photo of boy’s distance runners
The boys, 3200m and 1600m saw a battle of three strong competitors. Fremont senior Simon Peterson captured the 3200m title in a time of 9:33.22, followed by Weber senior Andrew Harris in 9:37.34. Third place went to Harris’ teammate Landon Hart in a time of 9:43.75.
Harris returned the favor in the 1600m by winning in a time of 4:24.93. Peterson finished second in 4:33.83 and Hart again in third with a 4:36.62 finish. Peterson captured his second win of the meet in the 800m with a narrow victory over Garrison Johnson, a sophomore from Weber. Peterson’s winning time was 2:03.36, and Johnson finished in 2:03.72
Girl’s sprint events
Fremont girls completed the sweep in the 100m, with Harlan winning in a time of 11.65, followed by senior Megan Wood in 13.10, and freshman Kenley Fuit finished third in 13.12. The 200m final saw Harlan win in a time of 24.04, Weber junior Annalise Ririe was second in 26.50, and Fuit crossed the line in third with a time of 27.03.
Weber senior Eden DeVries continues to dominate the 100m hurdles by winning the event in 14.68. DeVries winning time was a meet record, and she currently stands as the top 100m hurdler in the state. Ogden Tigers senior Brinley Beus finished second in 16.15, and Fremont’s Fuit finished third in 16.95.
DeVries captured her second victory of the meet in the 300m hurdles with a winning time of 48.16. Ogden senior Madelyn Girardo finished second in 48.48, and Fremont’s Charlee Ortgiesen was third in 49.79. Girardo’s time qualified her for the state championship meet in 3A.
Boy’s sprint events
photo of Weber’s Josh Hamblin in 110m hurdles
Roy’s Colby Anderson continues to be the state’s best sprinter in the “triple,” the 100m, 200m, and 400m. Anderson won the 100m event in a blazing 10.97 and the 200m in a new meet record of 22.16. The 400m finals saw Anderson win with another meet record of 48.78.
Anderson has the meet record in each sprint event, 100m (10.86 in 2022), 200m (22.16 in 2023), 400m (48.78 in 2023), and 4×100 relay (43.45 in 2022). “I didn’t think about or expect the meet records,” said Anderson. “But it is exciting and a cherry on top.” “This was my first meet running with my Roy teammates,” said Anderson. “But one of the best parts is being with my team and building great camaraderie to prepare us for the region.”
Weber gave a glimpse of a future star in freshman Josh Hamblin. Hamblin had an outstanding meet in winning the 110m and 300m hurdle events. Hamblin posted a winning time of 15.50 in the 110m hurdles and 40.55 in the 300m hurdles. “I give a lot of credit to coach Trane; he is a great hurdle coach,” said Hamblin. He has been helping me for the last six months.”
Both hurdle times for Hamblin qualify him for the state championship meet. Hamblin is now ranked third in 6A in both hurdle events and is ready to challenge for region and state titles for the next few years.
Ben Lomond’s junior Aunese Tuatagaloa finished second in 16.50, and Fremont junior Brody Clark crossed the line in third place in 16.53.
Girl’s field events
photo of St. Joseph’s Sarah Snell
St. Joseph High School senior Sarah Snell won the javelin event with an impressive throw of 123’3″. Snell currently owns the top throw in the state this season with a season’s best throw of 129’8.5″, which also is the nation’s 44th best. “I was excited last year when I saw I was nationally ranked,” said Snell. “Hopefully, I am going to get higher.” Snell is the defending 2A state champion and threw a personal best 137’9.5″ at the state meet in 2022.
“I have goals of how I want to improve,” said Snell. “And what mark I want to hit, so hopefully, I can hit that by the end of the season.” Snell has committed to the University of British Columbia to continue her education and throw the javelin after high school.
Weber junior Cami Cvitkovich notched a new meet record in the high jump, clearing 5’7″. The previous record was by Ogden’s Lauren Crockett of 5’6″ in 2010. Cvitkovich, the 6A defending champion, has the third-best mark in the state this season.
Fremont sophomore Brianna Rowley had a winning toss in the shot put of 30’8″. Roy junior Bryn Wardleigh was the winner in the discus event with a throw of 83’10”.
Boy’s field events
Fremont sophomore Tanner Erickson captured the win in the discus event with a throw of 133’0.5″. The long jump saw Ogden High School senior Chet Colvin win with a leap of 21’4″. Colvin fell just short of the meet record of 21’5″ but qualified for the state meet with his jump.
Roy junior Cove Rodriguez won the javelin event with a throw of 134’11”. Rodriguez has the number one ranking in Region 2 with his winning throw and is set on qualifying for the state championship meet. Utah Military Academy junior Easton Olsen finished in second place with a throw of 129’4″.
Weber sophomore Brandon Crockett wins the high jump event with a leap of 6″3″. Crockett’s mark qualifies him for the state championship meet and is a personal best.
Ogden’s senior Braxten Shobe takes the shot put title with a winning throw of 46’06”. Second place finisher junior Jaxton Wilberg of Roy had a throw of 43’10.5″.
Relay events
The boy’s 4×100 relay saw the Weber Warriors blaze to a first-place finish and a state championship meet qualifying time of 43.83. The Warriors team comprised Hamblin, Salesi Moa, Nakosi Swain, and Jayden Hernandez.
Fremont girls’ 4×100 relay easily won their event in a new meet record and state championship meet qualifying time of 49.35. Ortgiesen, Fuit, Megan Wood, and Harlan scored the victory for Fremont.
Boy’s 4×200 relay, Fremont (Slade Parker, Parks Benson, Ridge Whitney, and Boston Hadly) 1:36.37, and new meet record.
Girl’s 4×200 relay, Weber (Sadie Fletcher, Annalise Ririe, Isabelle Ririe, and Lauren Cason) 1:51.20, and new meet record.
Boys 4×400 relay, Weber (Easton Martin, Dallin Minnoch, Harris, and Lucas Ramage) 3:37.42.
Girl’s 4×400 relay, Weber (Eden Burton, DeVries, Katelyn Poulsen and Annalise Ririe) 4:17.35.
Outstanding athletes of the meet
photo of Roy’s Colby Anderson and Fremont’s Amare Harlan
Harlan took home the girl’s most outstanding athlete of the meet with her victories in the 100m, 200, long jump, and 4×100 relay.
Anderson was the boy’s most outstanding athlete, winning the 100m, 200, and 400m events. Anderson and his Royal teammates, Kahekili Eleneke, Maxx Johnson, and Hunter Webb, placed second in 4×100 in 44.33.
All times and results found at RunnerCard Results
photos courtesy of James Tate