The Evanston High School track and field teams enjoyed quite a bit of success at last weekend’s 4A West Regional Track Meet in Rock Springs, with the Red Devils placing second as a team, and the Lady Devils placing fourth.

“The kids performed really well, I was happy for them,” said EHS head coach Roy Barker. “Some record-breaking performances, a lot of personal bests. A lot of kids finishing off their careers by making state, or however it worked out for them — it was just fun to see those kids be able to perform at a culminating event, and give it their best shot. It was fun.”

It was a meet with more than its fair share of memorable moments, including the setting of a pair of new school records, both on Day 2 of the competition.

The boys’ 4x800 relay team of Gideon Stahl, Aidan Conrad, Paul Baxter and Jamar McDowell had been chasing the school record of 8:07.60 — set 40 years ago by Joe Holtz, Lance Proffit, Stuart Proffit and Rocky Seale — all season, and missed it by just .34 of a second at the BYU Invite last weekend. With just two opportunities left to rewrite the record books, the crew finally made it happen in Rock Springs, winning the event and setting a new record with a time of 8:06.56.

“When they ran at BYU, they didn’t have as much time to recover after they ran the mile,” Barker explained. “At Rock Springs, it was the first race of the day, and they came in ready to roll. It was fantastic — they just ran. We knew it was in them — they all ran about the same 2:01 split, and it was really fun to see. A 40-year-old school record — that’s pretty impressive.”

Less than an hour later, history was made again when Lady Devil sprinter Talia Conrad overcame a rough start in the 100 meter dash to set a new school record of 12.15, and win the event by .01 over Star Valley’s Kammi Merritt.

“What’s interesting about Talia’s race is, she had a bad start,” Barker said. “She was the last one out of the blocks, and in third place at about the 50-meter mark. She closed on them in the last 50 meters, and won it by .01. Not only was it a fantastic time, but what a comeback finish.”

Conrad came to sprinting late in her high school career, having spent her first two years at EHS as a distance runner before switching to sprints last season.

“A lot of hard work went into Talia’s performance — people don’t recognize that,” Barker explained. “They say, ‘Well, she’s just fast.’ No, to be able to run those kinds of times, she’s put a lot of effort into fundamentals and technique — not to mention a complete commitment in the weight room — to be able to perform that way. I’m just really, really proud of her.”

Nate Conrad — Talia’s father, and head cross country coach at EHS — also coaches the distance runners for the track and field teams. When his daughter races now, he prefers to watch from the stands.

“Apparently, coach Barker has officially awarded me the ‘Dumbest Coach of All Time Award,’ because I’m the idiot who tried to force Talia to be a distance runner for two years,” coach Conrad said, laughing. “Of course, everybody else knew that she was a sprinter all along. I’m like, ‘OK, whatever.’ But the amount of work that she puts in — I’d stack her up with anyone else in the state at how hard she works. She’s doing phenomenal things in just a short amount of time and exposure to it, and I couldn’t be more proud of her.”

The Red Devils finished the weekend with four individual champions, as well, with senior sprinter Gabe Hutchinson winning the 100 meters (10.88) and 200 meters (22.19), juniors Ayden Hartzell and Paul Baxter winning the 400 meters (48.92) and 3200 meters (10:16.09), respectively, and Kai Barker winning the high jump, clearing a height of 6 feet, 6 inches.

Relays were a strong point for both teams, with the Red Devils and Lady Devils sweeping the 4x400 meters. The girls’ team of Emma Lonsway, Braelynn Morrison, Jocelyn Capener and Talia Conrad finished in the top spot, with a time of 4:04.47; Jayden Rieker, Kai Barker, Ayden Hartzell and Gabe Hutchinson got it done on the boys’ side, winning with a time of 3:21.85.

“With Gabe winning the 100 and 200, Ayden winning the 400, Paul Baxter winning the 3200 and Kai winning the high jump, just a great day for the boys’ team,” Barker said. “Plus the boys and girls winning the 4x400 was a great accomplishment. We had some great surprises, as well — little Luca Flores, as a freshman, popping off a 47-foot in the shot put to take second. Then you have Jocelyn Capener taking second in both the 800 and 1600 meters. That’s what’s fun about track and field — so many opportunities for kids to perform well. It’s such a roller coaster ride of ups and downs, so it was really fun to see so many kids make it on the podium.”

The EHS track and field teams head to Casper Thursday for the start of the 4A State Track and Field Championships at Kelly Walsh High School.

“It looks like we’ll have decent weather, and that always makes for an enjoyable meet,” Barker said. “State is interesting. We know the other side of the state is really strong — Sheridan is a really good team for the boys and girls, and Cheyenne, Natrona, Gillette — those are the big schools in the state. There’s a lot of talent, a lot of bodies. To be able to go to state, make finals, perform well — that’s the key. You don’t have to do anything super-different – just go in there and perform like you have been all year, just maybe a little bit better. Step things up a little bit.”

Red Devils

On the boys’ side, the Red Devils finished the meet with 23 state qualifiers, including conference champions Gabe Hutchinson in the 100 (10.88) and 200 meters (22.19), Ayden Hartzell in the 400 meters (48.92), Paul Baxter in the 3200 meters (10:16.09) and Kai Barker in the high jump (6’6”). All four conference champions had busy weekends, with Hutchinson placing second in the 400 meters (49.64), Baxter placing second in the 800 meters (2:01.99) and eighth in the 1600 meters (4:35.27), Hartzell placing fourth in the 200 meters (22:52) and Barker placing third in the 300 hurdles (40.16), and fourth in the 110 hurdles (14.98).

Other multiple-event qualifiers included freshman sprinter Jayden Rieker, who made a case for himself as a runner to watch at this week’s state meet, placing fourth in the 400 meters (51.81) and seventh in the 200 meters (23.41).

Senior distance runner Gideon Stahl qualified in both the 800 meters (6th, 2:03.30) and 3200 meters (8th, 10:41.23); Aidan Conrad (6th, 2:03.20) and Jamar McDowell (8th, 2:03.77) also made the podium in the 800 meters.

In the field events, Cameron Hiatt placed third in the pole vault, clearing a height of 13 feet, 6 inches. Freshman Luca Flores emerged as the surprise of the meet, placing second in the shot put, with a toss of 47 feet, .25 inches; fellow thrower Kenyen Muir also qualified for state, placing seventh, with a toss of 44 feet, 7 inches.

Lady Devils

With the top eight finishers in each event qualifying for the 4A State Meet in Casper this week, Evanston was led by junior Talia Conrad, who won the 100 meters (12.15), placed third in the 200 meters (26.29) and third in the 400 meters (1:01.16).

Other Lady Devils qualifying in multiple events included senior distance runner Jocelyn Capener, who finished second in the 800 meters (2:20.78), second in the 1600 meters (5:33.05) and eighth in the 400 meters (1:19.97). Liesl Botts placed third in the 3200 meters, with a time of 12:31.05, Coaley Clifton was seventh in the 100 meters (13.33) and Hallie Prete was seventh in the 800 meters 2:32.02).

In the hurdles, sophomore Emma Lonsway placed third in the 300 hurdles, while freshman Cassie Barker placed sixth in the 300 hurdles (48.51) and seventh in the 100 hurdles (16.41); Barker also placed third in the high jump, clearing a height of 4 feet, 11 inches.

In the field events, Celeste Swensen (4th, 34’11”), Emma Lonsway (5th, 34’9”) and Marissa Parks (7th, 34’7”) all earned a spot on the podium in the triple jump, while Swensen also qualified in the long jump, placing eighth (15’10.25”).

4A West Regional Meet Results

Girls Results

1. Kelly Walsh 179.50, 2. Star Valley 120, 3. Cody 109.50, 4. Evanston 96.50, 5. Rock Springs 65, 6. Green River 49.50, 7. Riverton 42, 8. Jackson 33

100 Meter Dash

1. Talia Conrad 12.15, 7. Coaley Clifton 13.33, 22. Charley Lym 15.39

200 Meter Dash

3. Talia Conrad 26.29

400 Meter Dash

3. Talia Conrad 1:01.16, 8. Jocelyn Capener 1:19.97

800 Meter Run

2. Jocelyn Capener 2:20.78, 7. Hallie Prete 2:32.02, 14. Marley Renelle 2:40.22

1600 Meter Run

2. Jocelyn Capener 5:33.05, 9. Liesl Botts 5:50.82, 18. Jasmine Tapia 6:08.44

3200 Meter Run

3. Liesl Botts 12:31.05

100 Meter Hurdles

7. Cassie Barker 16.41, 12. Celeste Swensen 18.12

300 Meter Hurdles

3. Emma Lonsway 47.52, 6. Cassie Barker 48.51

4x100 Relay

6. Brenna Fackrell, Cassie Barker, Coaley Clifton, Braelynn Morrison 51.75

4x400 Relay

1. Emma Lonsway, Braelynn Morrison, Jocelyn Capener, Talia Conrad 4:04.47

4x800 Relay

6. Liesl Botts, Marley Renelle, Jasmine Tapia, Hallie Prete 10:35.43

Sprint Medley Relay

6. Brenna Fackrell, Coaley Clifton, Braelynn Morrison, Hallie Prete 4:34.86

High Jump

3. Cassie Barker 4’11”

Long Jump

8. Celeste Swensen 15’10.25”, 11. Braelynn Morrison 15’5.5”, 16. Coaley Clifton 14’10”, 17. Brenna Fackrell 14’2”

Pole Vault

9. Emma Lonsway 9’

Triple Jump

4. Celeste Swensen 34’11”, 5. Emma Lonsway 34’9”, 7. Marissa Parks 34’7”

Discus

17. Kiernynn Simmons 89’9”, 18. Alyssa Brown 88’7”, 24. Ava Graham 79’, 26. Leah Sturges 75’9”

Shot Put

10. Kiernynn Simmons 34’4.5”, 11. Alyssa Brown 33’11”, 13. Ava Graham 32’5.25”, 24. Leah Sturges 27’6.25”

Boys Results

1. Cody 153, 2. Evanston 150, 3. Kelly Walsh 138, 4. Rock Springs 72, 5. Riverton 63, 6. Green River 46, 7. Jackson 40, 8. Star Valley 36

100 Meter Dash

1. Gabe Hutchinson 10.88, 17. Nate Ungerman 12.02, 18. Michael Kopp 12.70

200 Meter Dash

1. Gabe Hutchinson 22.19, 4. Ayden Hartzell 22.52, 7. Jayden Rieker 23.41

400 Meter Dash

1. Ayden Hartzell 48.92, 2. Gabe Hutchinson 49.64, 4. Jayden Rieker 51.81, 12. Brenner Lym 55.52

800 Meter Run

2. Paul Baxter 2:01.99, 5. Aidan Conrad 2:03.2, 6. Gideon Stahl 2:03.30, 8. Jamar McDowell 2:03.77

1600 Meter Run

8. Paul Baxter 4:35.27, 14. Jamar McDowell 4:48.20, 15. Bryan Baxter 4:50.68

3200 Meter Run

1. Paul Baxter 10:16.09, 7. Bryan Baxter 10:36.40, 8. Gideon Stahl 10:41.23, 12. Jamison Williams 11:12.53

110 Meter Hurdles

4. Kai Barker 14.98, 13. Timber Fitch 18.96

300 Meter Hurdles

3. Kai Barker 40.16, 10. Jay Hill 44.38, 13. Luke Robinette 45.34, 16. Timber Fitch 46.23

4x100 Relay

4. Jayden Rieker, Jay Hill, Brayden Wallace, Ayden Hartzell 44.49

4x400 Relay

1. Jayden Rieker, Kai Barker, Ayden Hartzell, Gabe Hutchinson 3:21.85

4x800 Relay

1. Jamar McDowell, Paul Baxter, Aidan Conrad, Gideon Stahl 8:06.56

Sprint Medley Relay

5. Nate Ungerman, Jay Hill, Cameron Hiatt, Aidan Conrad 3:47.28

High Jump

1. Kai Barker 6’6”, 13. Raife Wiedrich 5’8”, 13. Carter Brown 5’8”, 13. Cole Brown 5’8”

Pole Vault

3. Cameron Hiatt 13’6”, 10. Brayden Wallace 12’, 11. Jay Hill 11’6”

Long Jump

6. Trayten Wiedrich 20’6.5”, 19. Raife Wiedrich 18’1.5”, 23. Michael Kopp 17’10.25”

Triple Jump

8. Trayten Wiedrich 42’3.5”, 12. Raife Wiedrich 40’7”, 15. Brandon Blackwell 39’7”, 25. Michael Kopp 35’1”

Discus

16. Conner Olsen 117’6”, 19. Domonik Stuart 110’9”, 22. Luca Flores 108’11”, 25. Kenyen Muir 105’1”

Shot Put

2. Luca Flores 47’.25”, 7. Kenyen Muir 44’7”, 25. Steven Bowen 34’1.75”