Lehi’s Raff wins 1600 and 3200-meter titles.
The 2018 Utah State Track and Field Championships for class 4A, 5A and 6A were held at the BYU Robison Track and Field Complex on May 17 and 18. Athletes from Lehi High School claimed four individual state championship medals and athletes from Skyridge won two individual championships. Medals were awarded to the top six individual finishers and the top three relay teams. Points for the team totals are given to the top eight finishers in each event.
Lehi High School (4A) recap
State Champions
Ryan Raff
Ryan capped off his illustrious track career as a Pioneer with wins in both the 3200 meter and 1600 meter races. He led the 3200-meter event from start to finish. The crowd stood and cheered him on as he ran the final lap of the race setting a new state record with a time of 8:54.09. He shattered the previous record by 3.9 seconds. Raff opened a significant lead on the first lap, increasing the gap between himself and the field with each lap. He crossed the finish line more than 30 seconds before the next runner. Ryan’s winning time in the 1600-meter run was 4:15.96. Ryan ends his senior season as the reigning state 4A cross country, 3200 meter and 1600 meter champion. He will continue his running career at Northern Arizona University.
Anna Martin
Anna completed an amazing sophomore season by winning the 3200 meter in 10:46.59. She dominated this event all season long, winning every race in which she competed. Martin also placed 3rd in the 1600-meter run. She also ran cross country for the Pioneers last fall, placing 2nd at the state championship meet.
Trey Andersen
With a throw of 53-01 feet, Trey won the shot-put event. He took 3rd in the discus. A junior, Trey will have the opportunity to defend his state title next year. Trey was also a member of the varsity basketball team and the state champion football team this year.
Medalists
Amy Ballard
Amy, a junior sprinter and long jumper had a breakout year earning three medals at the state meet. She placed 2nd in the 100 meter, 3rd in the 200 meter and 4th in the long jump events. Amy will put her speed to use on the soccer pitch for the Pioneers next season as a member of the soccer team.
Finalists Earning Team Points
Abigail Gray, a junior, placed 8th in the 3200 meter run.
Team Scores
The Pioneer boy’s team placed 4th (36 points) and the girl’s team placed 5th (38 points). The combined team score of 74 points earned them a 5th place finish, overall, out of the 25 teams competing in the 4A classification.
Skyridge High School (5A) recap
State Champions
Josh Taylor
Josh won the 400-meter event in 47.80 seconds. Incredibly, Josh was undefeated in this event at all the major outdoor track events this season. He also took 4th in the 200-meter final. Just a junior, Josh will look to have an outstanding senior season.
Austin Child
Austin, a junior, cleared the bar at 6-08.00 on his third attempt to win the state title in the high jump. This jump equals his personal record set earlier this month at the BYU Invitational Meet.
Boy’s 4×400 Meter Relay Team
The team posted an impressive time of 3:21.20 to win the race. They crossed the finish line over 3 seconds before the second-place team. The team consisted of Clayton Schmidt, Andrew Perkins, Gavin Sturgeon, Josh Taylor.
Medalists
Calli Adamson, a junior sprinter, ended the season strong placing 3rd in the 100 meter and 4th in the 200 meter runs. Clayton Schmidt, a senior, placed 4th in the 100 meter and 6th in the 200-meter races. Abby Meck, a junior, continued the Falcon’s high jump excellence placing 2nd. Colby Samuels, a senior, placed 4th in the long jump. Colby was a standout receiver on the football team and a member of the varsity basketball team. Monica Kauffman, the outstanding sophomore thrower, took 5th in the javelin. Gavin Sturgeon, junior, placed 5th and Andrew Perkins, senior, placed 6th in the 400 meter race. Christian Johnson, a junior, took 6th in the discus.
Finalists Earning Team Points
Ben Brockbank, a sophomore, placed 7th in the 3200 meter and 8th in the 1600 meter events. William Denison, a senior, placed 7th in the long jump. Kimberley Harper, a junior, placed 7th in the 300-meter hurdles. Garrison Hodge, a junior, placed 7th in the shot put. Nathan Barlow, a sophomore, took 7th in the javelin.
The boy’s sprint medley relay team placed 7th. The boy’s 4×100 relay team placed 4th and the girl’s team placed 7th in this event. The girl’s 4×400 relay team took 4th place.
Team Scores
The Falcon boy’s team placed 2nd with 74 points and the girl’s team placed 11th with 28 points. With a total of 102 combined points, the team placed 2nd behind Springville – out of the 23 teams competing in the 5A classification.
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