Medal collectors: Dover 5th in Class A
DOVER SENIOR Karlee Harviston reaches behind her to take the baton from Kylee Bell in the 400 meter relay finals. Dover was third in that relay and also won silver in the 800 relay during the Class A state track and field meet. [Photo by Chris Simon/ www.
Dover only had four athletes at the Class A state track and field meet last weekend.
However, those four scored in every event in which they took part and finished fifth in the team standings at Western Heights High School.
“They were absolutely phenomenal,” said coach Dakoda Hart of his quartet of Kylee Bell, Ashley Gamez, Katelyn Harviston and Karlee Harviston. “For their first year doing track, they went far past my expectations.”
Of that group, only Bell had significant experience in track and field, especially at the state level.
Yet they all performed like veterans.
Katelyn Harviston made it home with four medals.
Individually, she was fifth in the high jump after clearing 5-feet for the first time and then took sixth in the 200 meter dash.
Karlee Harviston and Bell each won three medals at the meet.
Karlee was fifth in the 400 meter dash as an individual.
Bell, meanwhile, was the state runner-up in the pole vault.
The sophomore cleared 10 feet, which was a foot better than the bronze medalist.
Shattuck’s May Pachner won the event by clearing 12 feet, 6 1/2 inches, which is a new state meet record.
As a group, Dover’s bunch excelled in two relays.
They were the state runners-up in Friday’s 800 meter finals with a time of 1:47.92, just behind Cyril’s 1:47.26.
On Saturday, the foursome took the bronze medal in the 400 meter relay with their time of 52.41.
“For them to medal in every event they qualified in was something you don’t see happen often and to me is very impressive,” Hart said.
Texhoma won the team state championship with 87.2 points.
Cyril was the state runner- up with 62 while Boise City and Medford were third and fourth with 59 and 55 points, respectively.
There were 44 teams represented at the state meet.
“As a coach I couldn’t be more proud of them, not only for how well they did at state, but their drive, work ethic and attitudes all season were amazing,” Hart said. “I couldn’t be happier about how well they did at state and throughout the season.”