Whitewater meet hosts five teams

The 2018 Whitewater High School track meet is in the books, which is something that didn’t look like a possibility earlier this spring.

“It dried up finally,” Whitewater Head Coach Charlene Wasson said. “The snow went away and the wind came. It dried everything up.”

Whitewater and Dodson were the only two teams present. Other teams included Lustre, Turner, and Hays-Lodge Pole.

“Things are going pretty good,” Coach Wasson said. “We have kids doing events. It’s a small meet, which is kind of nice. You don’t have to do much and the kids are having fun.”

Whitewater freshman Kia Wasson led the Lady Penguins winning first place in the 1600 with a time of 6:04 and first place in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:45.41.

Whitewater’s Kelsee Cummings took first place in shot put with a throw of 30-6. Cummings also took third place in the 200 meter run with a time of 33.38, and sixth place in discus with a throw of 74.6.

“It’s going pretty good so far,” Cummings said early in the meet.

She had the chance to experience throwing in the pit that she is most familiar with in the shot put event.

“It wasn’t too bad but I could have done way better,” Cummings said. “I will keep my hand flat next time and I will probably throw further.”

Dodson’s Christina Jaynes took second place in discus with a throw of 85.5 and second in shot put with a throw of 29-7.

“I did not throw that well,” Jaynes said of her discus mark. “I have no idea why. I wasn’t in it. I have two more track meets this week and this one… Is like a practice.”

As for the boys, Trace Simonson led the Whitewater Penguins, winning four events, the first of which was high jump. He won high jump after being the only jumper to clear 5-8 on his final attempt.

“I’m feeling pretty good,” Simonson said. “It’s the first time I jumped all year, so it was a good one to start with.”

Simonson mentioned that he will continue to participate in high jump until the end of the track year.

As for his last Whitewater Invitational, Simonson, like many other athletes present found the atmosphere enjoyable.

“It’s pretty fun because this meet is always pretty relaxing,” Simonson said. “You can kind of have some fun with it, so it’s a good one.”

Simonson hopes to see himself at the podium after this year’s Class C State Meet, but he knows it won’t be easy.

“I’ll just have to keep working for it,” Simonson said.

He also won shot put with a throw of 38-0 and discus with a throw of 118, despite scratching twice in the event. Simonson won triple jump with a length of 38-3

Dodson’s David Jaynes took second place in shot put as three Coyotes placed in the top five in the event. Jaynes has a throw of 37-4. Jaynes also had a throw of 81-5 in discus, which gave him third in the event.

Whitewater senior Cody Scheffelmear took second in high jump by clearing 5-6. Scheffelmear also took third in triple jump, leaving a mark at 33-6 and, sixth in shot put with a throw of 31-5.

Dodson sophomore Tyrese Messerly took third place in long jump after a leap of 15-9.5. Messerly was also fourth in high jump clearing 5-2.

Dodson freshman Jeramiah Benson took third place in the 400 meter run with a time of 1:07.6.

Dodson’s Shaun Ball was fourth in shot put with a throw of 35-1.5.

“That’s my best so far,” Ball said. “My form was pretty good. It came from practicing with a bigger ball and I loosened my arm a little bit.”

He also took fourth in discus with a throw of 78-1 and fifth in long jump with a leap of 13-8.5.

Ball is in his first season of high school track and field and he seems to enjoy it.

“It’s pretty fun,” Ball said.

As for his favorite event, Ball enjoys shot put. When asked why, he smiled and said, “I just always thought I was pretty strong”.

It is also the first year of track for Dodson senior Paul Doney, who took fifth in shot put with a throw of 32-5 and sixth in the 200 meter dash with a time of 30.43.

“I’m feeling pretty good,” Doney said. “We (The Dodson Coyotes) placed in the top three spots in our shot put heat. We are tearing that up.”

Though he didn’t have his strongest throw in shot put, he was happy with the outcome.

“It’s not my best but even at my worst, I placed,” Doney said.

Doney has become a fan of the sport, in his first and only year of track and field.

“I like it,” Doney said. “I really wish I did it before but I am really enjoying the last sport of my senior year.”

Doney hopes to see himself at the State C Meet in Great Falls later this month.

“We have to make it past districts and divisionals,” Doney said.