Skogen, Espinoza win state titles for Ronan track

Zach Urness

Leader Staff

Discus disciple Alan Skogen, the current all-time record holder for Ronan High School, put the icing on the cake to his fantastic season with a class A state championship, hitting a mark of 160 feet to help the Ronan/St. Ignatius boys team take seventh place out of 23 teams.

“Alan accomplished what he had set out to do,” said head boys coach Noelle Decker. “It wasn’t his best throw of the season but good enough to get the win. Breaking the record earlier in the season and then breaking his own record again were an accomplishment within themselves.”

Tylar Espinoza, who stayed somewhat under the radar all year, came up huge when it mattered most, winning the 200 meters with a time of 22.95 as well as taking fifth place in the 100 meters with a time of 11.53.

“Tylar had the weekend of his life at state,” said Decker. “He had broken the school record on Friday afternoon in the 200 meter trials and ran such a strong race. I knew if he could do that again on Saturday he had a shot at winning the thing. I was so proud of him.”

In one of the most exciting events of the day, Cameron Barber did battle with Columbia Fall’s Bobby Pearce in the high jump. Both athletes went back-and-forth, both clearing this year’s state mark of 6 feet, six inches. Neither could hit the final mark of 6’ 7”, however, and because Pearce had cleared 6’ 6” in fewer attempts, Cameron had to settle for second place.

“Cameron’s high jump came down to misses at 6’2” and that is what bumped him into second place,” explained Decker, “but that is nothing to be disappointed with. He had a great season and I am just so happy for him.”

Skogen also placed fourth n the shot put with a toss of 48’ 10”.

Jamie Engeldrum ran both the 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles on Friday.

“He did not end up placing but still gave it a great effort,” noted Decker. “He has worked so hard at his events both during the season and the off-season. He is young and we are fortunate to have him back for two more years.”

The boys finished the day off when the1600m relay team of Cameron Barber, Jordan Rohrich, Aaron Trudeau and Tylar Espinoza broke the school record with a time of 3:31, although they just missed placing. The team will lose Barber, Skogen and Espinoza to graduation, but will return some good athletes.

The girls team ended the meet in 10th place out of 23 teams with 19 1/2 overall points.

Briana Malmquist led the way as she advanced to the finals in the 100 meters and 200 meters where she produced a time of 13.03 in the 100 meters to finish fourth and ran a 27.0 in the 200 meters.

Terinee McCready ran her season best time in the 3200 meters of 11:49 for a second place finish. She then ran a 5:30 in the 1600 meters to pick up sixth place.

Sadie McMillan broke her own school record of 16.0 in the 100 meter hurdles trials Friday with a time of 15.64 to win her trial heat and advance to the finals where she ran 15.97 to finish in fourth place. McMillan also placed in the high jump, clearing a season best five feet to tie for fifth place. She also ran 48.0 in the 300 hurdles but was out of the places.

The 400 relay team of Stephanie Salomon, Ishan Wylie, Sadie McMillan, and Briana Malmquist were able to produce their season best of 51.03 and advance to the finals, and picked up sixth place.

“Briana closed out her high school career with a career best leg in the 1600 meter relay (60.3),” noted head girls coach Crystal Pitts. “The team of Briana, Stephanie Salomon, Tabitha Carlson, and Sadie McMillan finished with a season best of 4:12.”

“The girls had a good season and the seniors of Briana Malmquist and Stephanie Salomon with their leadership and competitiveness and just being great people will be missed,” said Pitts. “I would like to express how thankful I am to have been here for the 2007 track season. It has been great, but hard and sometimes long physical therapy, but I know it was being there with the students and on the field that has helped in my recovery, and I can not thank the people on the track and field coaching staff enough for all they did. Noelle Decker, Shelly Buhr, and Jonkar Arceniega helped me make it through the season and without them it would have been tough, very tough. Thank you. I also want to thank all of the parents who allowed their children to share this part of their life with us, it has been a pleasure.”