The Rocky Mountain thinclads were thin in the ranks Saturday as they traveled to Lovell for the Lovell Invitational.


With most of the team competing at the three-on-three basketball tournament in Thermopolis, only eight athletes were available to compete Saturday, and Friday’s pre-regional meet at Thermop Friday was cancelled due to cold weather.


“We knew a bunch of them would be in the three-on-three tournament, and we made arrangements to stay there,” coach Dave Beemer said. “So we missed a meet, which killed us.”


Still, there were some strong performances for the Grizzlies and Lady Grizz as a few athletes tried some new events and found success.


Freshman Leslie Blackburn tried the 800-meter run for the first time this season and ran a strong time of 2:36.88 to place second.


“She’s been training at it,” Beemer said. “We knew she could run it really well. We’re thinking of putting her in the 400, too.”


Blackburn also set a new personal record in the high jump at 4-11, finishing third based on the number of misses.


Beemer was also pleased to see Lauren Peterson make a return to the track after nursing a hip injury. She ran strong in the 1,600 meters, placing third with a time of 6:16.62, which Beemer said is encouraging because Peterson has been unable to train with her injury.


Also strong Saturday was Emily Bernhisel in the throws. Bernhisel won the shot put with a toss of 32-7½ and was sixth in the discus with a personal-record throw of 93-3.


Other Lady Grizzly competitors included Miranda Wilson, ninth in the long jump at 12-2¼, and Heather Sanders, who placed seventh in the 100-meter dash 17.14 and 21st in the discus at 48-5.


On the boys’ side, Randall Mann placed third in the long jump at 18-11, with Brandon Asay 12th at 15-8.


Asay also set personal records in the 100-meter dash – eighth at 12.64 seconds – and the 200-meter dash – 10th at 25.93. Beemer said Asay’s times are “moving down, down, down.”


Freshman Kempton Fitzherbert ran the 1,600 meters for the first time this season and finished 12th with a solid time of 5:27.53.


The Grizz and Lady Grizz will be off to Lander Friday and Saturday for the Class 2A West Regional Track Meet.


Action begins Friday at 11 a.m. with field events and running events at 12:45 p.m. Saturday’s schedule includes field events at 9 a.m. and running at 11 a.m.
Athletes entered in the regional track meet include:
Adam Alvarado, 100m dash, 4x100 relay, shot put, discus; Brandon Asay, 200m dash, 400m dash, long jump; Kenny Beard, 100m dash, 200m dash, 4x100 relay; Korey Hocker, 100m dash, 4x100 relay, long jump, triple jump; Kempton Fitzherbert, 1,600m run, 3,200m run; Luis Jurado, 200m dash, 400m dash; Randall Mann, 400m dash, 800m run, 4x100 relay, long jump;
Melissa Barnes, 100m dash, 4x100 relay, high jump, triple jump; Emily Bernhisel, discus, shot put; Leslie Blackburn, 400m dash, 800m run, 4x800 relay, high jump; Eliza Higgins, 300m hurdles, 400m dash, 800m run, 4x800 relay; Lauren Peterson, 1,600m run, 3,200m run, 4x800 relay; Heather Sanders, 100m dash, discus; Kelsey VanLake, 200m dash, 4x100 relay, long jump, triple jump; Calli Ward, 1,600m run, 3,200m run, 4x100 relay, 4x800 relay; Miranda Wilson, 100m dash, 200m dash, 4x100 relay, long jump.