Riverton track and field to keep up rebuilding

Riverton's track and field teams are fresh off groundbreaking seasons and should continue to build for next year. Their coach was definitely pleased with the Silverwolves' ability to step up this season.

"It was incredibly satisfying," coach Brent Hawkins said.

The girls surprised Bingham to win the Region 3 championship and then tied the Miners with a fifth-place finish at the state meet.

At Copper Hills High School, site of the Region 3 championship, Riverton's girls won four events and scored 182 points, edging the Miners, who scored 139 points.

"We're turning the corner now," Hawkins said. "It's critical that we keep it going for next season."

The youth of the Silverwolves should help them continue their winning ways.

The girls team blitzed the rest of the region, culminating in a 43-point win over Bingham, led by senior Sarah Blad and freshman sprinters Brianne Campbell and Rachel Johnson. The balanced Riverton team finally exploited the Miners in the field events, mainly the long jump and throwing events.

Riverton's Tanza Buroker won the region title with a jump of 16-09, while Valerie Smith and Shanna Nielson took second place in the discus and shot.

At the state meet, freshman Rachel Johnson surprised the field with a second-place finish in the long jump. Then it was Shanna Nielson who nailed a throw of 40-0.75 in the shot put to give her the state title. Her winning throw at BYU was a huge improvement from her toss at region (36-04).

The team finished the state meet with 40 points, tying it with Bingham for fifth place.

Looking ahead to next season, the defending Region 3 champions will have plenty of talent returning. The entire 4x100 relay team comes back, along with standout long jumpers Rachel Johnson and Tanza Buroker. Young sprinters like Alisa Sheffer and Brianne Campbell are also back in the fold.

The team's biggest loss will be state champion Shanna Nielson and sprinter Sarah Blad.

The boys lose a number of seniors from the team that finished second to Bingham in the region. Hawkins said he won't be able to replace them very easily.

"We had a lot of great senior leadership on this team," Hawkins said. "To be successful next year, we're going to have to get some kids out of the halls."