Skip to main content

Grizzlies climb to second place in Region 3

Jun 05, 2017 03:15PM ● By Greg James

Grizzlies climb to second caption: Grizzly runners Amberly Lazenby and Katie Shepherd prepare to take on their competition. (Greg James/City Journals)

By Greg James |  [email protected]
           
Copper Hills High School's track team has established itself as one of the best teams in the state. Its second-place finish at the 2017 Region 3 meet helps prove this to its fans.
 
“Our team is definitely like another family,” Grizzly senior Gabe Stock said. “It is always great to spend time with people who can talk the language of track and have the same love for it. This is an individual sport, but your teammates are the ones pushing you and cheering you on.”
 
At the Region 3 championships held at Copper Hills High School May 10–11, Bingham captured the region title. The Grizzlies placed second, and West Jordan finished third.
 
“There have definitely been ups and downs this season, but I feel this was a good year,” Stock said. “I definitely hoped to get faster PRs (personal records) and higher finishing spots in region, but it is what it is.”
 
Stock qualified in the boys 100 and 200 meters for the state track meet. His time of 11.38 seconds in the 100 was third-fastest in Region 3 at the championships; a 22.56 in the 200 earned him fourth place.
 
“In my 200, I need to definitely spend time working my curve and not conserve as much,” he said. “I know hitting practice this week with endurance workouts will help with having the stamina to maintain the speed. At state it is going to be an all-out sprint.”
 
The Grizzlies sent 10 runners to compete in six different distances at state.
 
Senior Autumn Babcock placed fourth at region, right behind junior Natalie Mandujano in the 1600 meters. In the boys’ race, sophomore Logan Anderson placed fourth overall. Joshua Memmot finished third in the boys 400, and senior Corban Allen took second in the 800.
 
The Grizzlies had four athletes running over hurdles at state: Brandon Hammond, Shelbie Larsen, Parker Scholes and Daniella Rivera.
 
Three athletes participated in field events: freshman Carlin Sheperd, and seniors Scholes and Bailee Smith are scheduled to compete in the high jump.
 
“Track has definitely taught me that nothing is achieved by standing around,” Stock said. “If you want something, you better be willing to put the work in. You get out of it what you put in.”
 
The Grizzlies’ track team demonstrated its willingness to improve on the track as well as the classroom.
 
The Utah High School Activities Association awarded six Copper Hills athletes with the Academic All-State Award. This award is given to seniors that excel in the classroom as well as on the track. Grizzly seniors Tabitha Brady, Whitney Brownlee, Shelbie Larsen, Olivia Smith, Rowland Bolman and Joseph Gregory were recognized at the state track meet.
 
The Grizzlies’ 4x400 boys relay placed first, nearly three seconds ahead of the Miners’ relay team. The victory qualified the team for the state track meet. The Grizzlies will send four relay teams to the state meet.
 
The Utah State Track meet was held May 19–20 at Clarence Robison Track on the campus of BYU (after press deadline).