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Home > Archive > Mar 29, 2007

Region 9 Hits the Track in Red Rock Invitational
By Cortney Mathews
Sports Writer
Pine View Panthers coach Vance Casperson began coaching track 17 years ago. He says there's much more to track and field than winning a trophy or getting a nice ring. There are great lessons to be learned through running track aside from focusing on who wins and who loses.
But it is certainly fun to watch Region 9 athletes compete.
“The 100 meter dash is the fastest event there is,” Dixie Flyers coach Lee Goodrich said. “The hurdles and the pole vault are both crowd favorites. It seems like the events that have a greater chance of going wrong, the dangerous events, are watched pretty closely.”
Region 9 teams have another chance to compete March 29 at Pine View High School in the Red Rock Invitational. Snow Canyon will play host at Pine View High School due to repairs being made to their track at Snow Canyon.
Short distance runs such as the 100- and 200-meter races, along with the mile and the jumping events, have been the traditional favorites at Region 9 track meets. Things haven't changed, and local schools in the region are sure to excite spectators throughout the 2007 season.
“Region 9 is the premier region in the state of Utah,” Casperson said. “Hurricane, Pine View and really all the teams in the region have done quite well.”
Casperson said several of the Region 9 teams have a good chance to place in the top ten at the state competition. The increased success in Region 9 can be attributed in part to the newly installed tracks and fields at local high schools.
The Pine View Panthers are led by Kevin Clements, one of the premier athletes in Region 9, Casperson said. Although Clements claims track and field as a conditioning sport for football season, he made noise in 2006, taking second place in the 200-meter dash.
Robert Evans, Eric Gould and several other athletes from the Panthers boys and girls teams should help the Panthers gain a significant number of points throughout the season.
The Panthers are focused as a team, determined to work together toward their goals.
“Winning region and winning state: Those are two goals that come up real often,” Casperson said. “What's more important is that we make men out of boys, as they say, and help these kids grow. We help each other through the tough times and learn along the way.”
“Hurricane has a good group of throwers, Cedar is excellent in distance running and hurdles, but each team in the region has its own strengths,” Casperson said. “It's going to be a fun season.”
The Snow Canyon Warriors will bring their junior varsity runners to the Invitational at Pine View High School while their varsity runners will compete in Delta the same weekend. They have experience working for them this year, as several of last year's athletes have returned for another season of competition.
“I have more kids coming out and staying here this year than ever before,” Graft said. “It really is difficult trying to figure out what everyone can and can't do.”
However, Adam Timo, one of several leaders on the Warriors squad a year ago, is expected to compete at a very high level again this year, Warriors coach Jay Graft said. Timo will compete in the high jump and the long jump, events that he dominated a year ago in 3A state competition. Timo will also run the 200 meter and the medley for the Warriors.
Jenna Esplin and Becca Ricks have participated with the Warriors team since Graft became coach three years ago. Having broken the Snow Canyon medley record two years ago, Esplin and Ricks should lead the Warriors once again in medley races and jumping events.
Kamee Bentley, a distance runner traditionally, will run the 800-meter and relay races this season. Having taken second place at state, throwing the discus in 2006, Bentley will throw the discus again while adding the javelin to her repertoire.
Brandon Wignell, another leader from a year ago, will run the 3200-meter race, the mile, the 800-meter and the relay races for Snow Canyon as well.
Graft anticipates the Warrior medley teams will be tough competitors throughout the season.
The returning 3A state champion boys track team from Hurricane High School is expected to compete once again for a state title.
Boys coach Boyd Prince, having lost a significant number of senior runners from a year ago, remains confident his team will make waves throughout the season.
Senior Aaron Best, after a second-place finish in the shot put last year, has raised his expectations and is set on bettering his marks from last year. Best will also throw the javelin for the Tigers. He is a leader to the team through his performance, Prince said.
Jared Buhunin is another senior who looks to repeat his first-place performance in the discus from 2006.
The Tigers distance running is in good shape as well. Karl Wilcox and Ryan Howard are poised to help the Tigers in races such as the mile, the medley relay races, as well as the 1600- and 3200-meter runs.
Trent Housley is another senior who has led the Tigers team verbally and physically through his performance.
The Tigers, having finished just two points ahead of Judge Memorial a year ago at state, are ready to make a run at another state championship.
The Dixie Flyers are coached by Lee Goodrich, working with the sprinters, the hurdlers and the relay teams; Paul Durrant, working with the distance runners; Jill Pace, coaching the jumpers; and Israel Meadows, coaching the throwing athletes.
Goodrich looks forward to seeing the season develop.
“Region 9 is definitely the toughest region in the state,” he said. “Each team has its strengths and its own depth. We have a pretty young team with only a couple seniors. Our girls team is deep.”
Goodrich added that the Dixie hurdlers look good, and throwing events are the Flyers’ strength. The Flyers will put up a fight in sprinting and other events as well.
Starting time for the Red Rock Invitational at Pine View High School is 3 p.m. March 29. This track and field event featuring some of Southern Utah's finest athletes is the weekly event that shouldn't be missed.

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