by Missy Thompson

STAFF WRITER

With the Region 7 track meet just a day away, the Tooele High School track and field team used Saturday's BYU Invitational as a good way to warm up for the region meet that will be held on Wednesday and Thursday at Timpview High School. Tooele took 22 athletes to the invitational that had the competition of a state meet, except there were athletes from Wyoming, Nevada and Idaho.

Last Wednesday they ran against Orem, Payson, Grantsville and Wendover helping them improve times and distances, while working on form.

Milo Leakehe qualified for the state meet in the long jump at 20 feet, six and a quarter inch at BYU. Jordan Clemente, who jumped 20 feet 11 inches at the quad meet is well beyond the qualifying mark, but needs to jump that distance at region in order to qualify for state.

In last Wednesday's quad meet, both the boys and girls beat out the other teams to finish on top. The girls won with 108 points followed by Orem (73.5), Grantsville (67.5), Payson (27) and Wendover (2). The boys team really overpowered everyone else finishing at 112 points with Grantsville (53), Orem (51), Payson (48) and Wendover (19).

Coach Kendra Reed says her athletes have seen what all of the other schools in Region 7 can do, except Springville, and they will probably be the team to beat.

"The hardest thing is they won't come out here for us to see them," Reed said. "I'd like to know how we stack up, because it's mental toughness at this point."

Because there are seven schools in Region 7, the top five finishers in each event at region will make it to state.

"This gives more opportunity for the younger kids to squeeze in there," Reed said.

The sprinters, jumpers and throwers have a really good shot at qualifying for state, but the distance runners have a lot farther to go before getting on the BYU track.

"In the competitive toughness of this region, we're on the outside looking in," said coach Randy Quarez. "If we place in region we will place high at state."

The only distance runner to get to the BYU invite was Jenni Torgerson in the 800 meters. However, she ran 5:53 at the quad meet, 13 seconds in front of Joanna Blackburn from Orem. Torgerson and Aime Farley, along with Sam Mitchell and Colter Rockwell of the boys, are the four that Quarez believes have a chance to sneak into one of those five places.

Tooele sprinting tandem of Cassidee Christensen and Lindsey Terry tied for first in the 100 meters at the quad meet with a time of 13.13. At the BYU meet, Terry finished in 17th at 13.04 with Christensen a little over a half second behind at 13.59 but in 45th place.

Both Terry and Christensen are members of the 4x400 meter relay team, along with Farley and Jessica Anderson who set a personal record at BYU with a time of 4:18.72.

Tooele has top-ranked throwers in region and 4A, however a few of the throwers have mentally beat themselves up about their distances.

"We've got good throwers, they're just inconsistent," Reed said. "Both Mason Halligan and Jordan Biorge are excellent javelin throwers but are so good in other areas, it's what they practice last."

Reed said the throwers are working on form and quickness, the distance runners on not getting boxed in and the sprinters on their hand-offs.

missy@tooeletranscript.com