Preps tune up, improve their times on Taylorsville track

TAYLORSVILLE — Harsh weather didn't keep prep track athletes from improving seasonal times and earning state qualifying berths at the second annual Taylorsville Invitational on Saturday afternoon.

In fact, there were so many athletes vying for state qualifying times that some events were still not finalized as of 7:45 p.m. Taylorsville track coach Brad Molen said team scores and results in several events would be determined late Saturday.

"We had almost 100 runners in the 1,600-meter races, for example," Molen said. "We're still reviewing some tapes and times in a couple of races."

The meet served as a good tuneup for the two weeks of qualifying meets prior to the state championships in four weeks. Though several top schools and performers either took the week off or tried to improve times in events where they were not previously qualified, some top performances were turned in.

In women's events, American Fork's Becca Bush was a double winner in both hurdles races. Her winning times in the 100 and 300 hurdles were both meet records.

Taylorsville's own Shawnee Slade captured the 100 at 12.42, breaking the meet record by nearly half a second. She was second to Bingham's Michelle Partridge in the 200. Partridge also won the women's long jump at 15-6.75.

Other winners in track events were Judge Memorial's Stephene Gaitan in the 400, Northridge's Stacie Lifferth in the 800 and 1,600 and Davis High junior Shaylee Marler in the 3,200.

Besides Partridge's win in the long jump, Viewmont's Nicole Farnsworth took first in the discus at 141-10.

Taylorsville's Sok Nhim continued his dominance in the 100. winning in 11.08. He also took first in the long jump. Josh Crittenden of Box Elder was first in the 110 hurdles, and Bonneville's Tommy Hurley captured the 400. Each winner set new meet records at the T-ville Invitational.

Weber distance star Nick Fisher edged Davis' Josh Adams for victory in the 1,600.

Field event winners included Viewmont's Trevor Heiner in high jump at 6-9; Steven Fielden of Riverton in the discus at 151-7; Box Elder's John Johnson in pole vault at 13-0; Davis' Ryan Spencer in shot at 55-3; and Jared Galvin of Box Elder in javelin (174-1).

Pine View competed at the meet after changing plans to hold its own qualifier over the weekend.

Next week, most 5A schools will be in Kaysville for the annual Davis High Invitational, the state's oldest invitational track meet. On April 30 and May 1, track athletes will gather in Provo for the BYU Invitational.