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Quick feet, long throws for Devils

Ian Cropp
Daily file photoAshley Rohweder, left, won the 300 hurdles Saturday at the regional meet in Grand Junction
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GRAND JUNCTION ” When it comes to day-long track meets, Eagle Valley only needs a few minutes.

The Devils’ girls picked up tons of points in the sprint and relay events to finish second with 131.5 points, just behind Glenwood Springs (135) at Saturday’s regional meet in Grand Junction.

“It was a great day for them,” said Devils’ coach Jeff Shroll. “The girls I knew could step up did step up. Hattie (Higgins) is going to state in four events, and Ashley (Rohweder) is in going in everything she ran.”



Rohweder nearly posted a sub-45 second time in the 300 hurdles, taking first in 45.07. The time broke Rohweder’s old school record.

“That was a phenomenal race for her,” Shroll said.

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Eagle Valley’s 400 relay team, which has been dangerous all year, didn’t disappoint Saturday.

“They won again,” Shroll said.

The team of Sierra Pickslay-Zamora, Shaylynn Nielson, Higgins and Rohweder finished in 50.65.

Along with the 400 relay squad, the 800 relay will be running again next weekend in Denver at state. Michelle Parmenter, Nielson, Pickslay-Zamora and Higgins ran a 1:50.57 to take third.

“They’ve been in the bottom of the barrel all year, so that was great,” Shroll said.

There was little stopping the Devils in anything under 200 meters.

Rohweder led a trio of placers in the 200, taking second at 26.50. Pickslay-Zamora was fifth at 27.25 while Higgins with sixth at 27.75.

And in the 100, Rohweder did the same, taking third at 12.74 ” a new personal and school record. Nielson was fourth at 13.28, while freshman Emily Kingston was fifth at 13.46.

Higgins showed her sprinting versatility, getting it done in the 400 with a third-place finish at 1:02.15.

The medley relay of Kingston, Sasha Pickslay-Zamora, Nielson and Sierra Pickslay-Zamora was fifth. Eagle Valley’s 1,600 relay was seventh.

Kingston went 15 feet, 2 inches in the long jump for eighth.

For the second time in as many days, the girls won a throwing event, with Amy Thompson tops in the discus. Already prequalified for state, Thompson threw 113. Kacey Bair, who won the shot put Friday, was fourth in the discus at 96, while Jackie Eberhard was sixth.

“They step up every week,” Shroll said of his throwers.

Most coaches get upset when their kids go against what they say. But Shroll will make an exception in the case of Mike Smith’s selfless insubordination.

After tweaking his injured hamstring Friday, Smith was supposed to skip events on Saturday. But when Shroll saw the 400 relay team assembling, Smith was there.

“I didn’t think it was a good idea because I thought he could hurt his opportunity to do long and high jump at state,” Shroll said. “But he said he wanted to help some of the other seniors get to state.”

Brendon Wright handed to Smith, who passed to Matt Barker, who then let Mike Medsker take the final leg. The team took second in 44.79, their best time of the year.

“This was the day for the seniors to rise to the occasion and do what they did,” Shroll said. “Mike Medsker has worked hard for this all season.”

Smith went on to take sixth in the high jump.

“He just hopped over one-legged a few times,” Shroll said.

The Devils’ Kyle Simonett, one day after knocking more time off his own 400 record, grabbed the regional title in 51.24.

“He’s been first all season long, but now it counts,” Shroll said.

Medsker showed off his wheels in the 100, taking fifth at 11.41. Jamie Fahrmayer knocked three seconds off his best time in the 1,600 (4:44) to take seventh.

Sports Writer Ian Cropp can be reached at 748-2935 or icropp@vaildaily.com.


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