photography / Maegan Burr Freshman Rylee Mulitalo throws the javelin at the Tooele Invitational track meet. Mulitalo has qualified for state in the discus and shot put. She is one of the top two leaders in the shot put in Region 7.

by Missy Thompson

STAFF WRITER

Tooele High School's track and field season is winding down. They have one dual meet and one invitational left before the Region 7 meet and the 4A state track meet will be held on May 16 and 17 at BYU.

However, several athletes have already qualified in their respective events and are focusing their efforts on the state meet. Freshman Rylee Mulitalo is one of these athletes.

Mulitalo qualified in the shot put with a throw of 34 feet 10.5 inches at the Provo Freshman/Sophomore meet. At the Tooele High Invitational two weekends ago she threw 104 feet 8 inches in the discus to qualify for the state meet.

"It's been since Jill Lowry (in 2000) that we've had a thrower out and out qualify for state," said track coach Kendra Reed. "Everyone else has done it at region."

Mulitalo, who also played as an offensive and defensive lineman on the freshman/sophomore football team, is ready to win region and win against other 4A schools at state.

"She has a good shot at winning region in the shot put," Reed said. "There's a girl from Mountain View and the two will fight it out for the discus."

"I'm a little nervous and proud of myself," Mulitalo said. "It's hard to take in, but I'm way excited to just go and compete."

Cody Mott, a senior, is another thrower who qualified for state in the discus at the Tooele Invitational with a throw of 135 feet 6 inches. Last year Mott qualified during the region meet, but knowing he's competing at state is a relief.

"I'm top in the region from what I've seen so far," Mott said. "I'm really excited to qualify early. Last year I was stressing. Now that I've got that off my back I can have fun."

In order to prepare for each throw, Mott thinks about his spin and breaks down each step he will take.

"I calm myself down because if I get too excited I mess up," Mott said. "I also talk to myself: 'Cody, you've done this before.'"

Jordan Clemente has a jump of 20 feet 11 inches in the long jump, which is a state qualifying mark. However, he did it at a dual meet and not invitational which means it does not actually qualify him in that event, yet.

"I know I will qualify in the 100 meters and hopefully in the long jump," Clemente said.

He said he was in better condition last year, as a sophomore, in the 110 high hurdles. As of right now, Clemente is one tenth of a second away from qualifying.

"I watch a lot of people who are good and mimic what they do," Clemente said. "It doesn't matter if it's football, basketball or track. That's why they're good."

It seems to have paid off because the Tooele junior has just missed qualifying for each of his events and hopes to do so at the BYU Invitational this weekend or at least in the Region 7 meet.

Sophomore Lindsey Terry qualified at the Delta Invitational in the 100 meters with a time of 12.95 seconds. She's a member of the girls 4x100 meter and 4x400 meter relay teams, both of which coach Al Bottema has a good shot at qualifying for state. However, they won't be able to run the 4x100 until the region meet. Terry is also close to qualifying in the 200 meter run.

Another sophomore, Cassidee Christensen barely qualified for state at the Carbon Invitational in the long jump at 15 feet 10.5 inches, just a half an inch beyond the marking point.

The boys 4x400 meter relay team of Talon Hughes, Brad Woodruff, Travis Brady and Milo Leakehe will probably qualify at the BYU Invitational this coming weekend, Bottema said.

For distance runners, Sam Mitchell in the 800 meter run has a chance and Jenni Torgerson's times in the 800 have dropped over the season. And many athletes like Jordan Biorge, Nick Hyde, and Mason Halligan all have a shot at qualifying during the BYU Invite.

"It's a tough region," Bottema said. "Of all 4A, this is the toughest and we're doing well. Our times are coming down. We're very young, especially the girls, but we will do well."

The only concern is qualifying athletes in the distance races.

"This region is so deep in distance, personal records will be a great thing," Bottema said.

Many of the athletes will have to qualify at the region meet if they are not attending the BYU Invitational. The coaches are proud of those who have already made and are looking to push the others who are close to go above and beyond.

Tooele will host Orem on Wednesday in a dual meet. The Region 7 championships will be held on May 7 and 8.

missy@tooeletranscript.com