Ending the season with some strong performances the Powell Middle School boys’ track and field team competed hard at the Lander Best of the Best on Tuesday, May 13, earning plenty of medals in the process.

Leading the way for the seventh grade boys was a pair of second place finishes, as Carter Gambill took second in the high jump clearing 5 feet, 2 inches, and Tucker McDonald took second in the pole vault clearing 8 feet even.

Additional top eight individual finishers for the seventh grade Cub boys included Kendall Matthews who placed third in the pole vault (7-6); McDonald took fifth in the 100 meter hurdles in 17.99 seconds and the high jump (4-10) while Gambill placed sixth in the 400 meters (1:02.36).

“Our seventh graders have experienced what a successful season looks and feels like,” coach Amanda Haney said. “As they move into leadership roles next year we look forward to continuing their development and preparing them for future success at the high school level.”

For the eighth grade Cubs, they had a number of top finishers at the Best of the Best, including a pair of second place finishers as Karzten Carter took second in the high jump clearing 5-4, and Justin Marquez placed second in the shot put with a throw of 42-8.

Two more top three finishes came from Russell Goolsbey and Isaiah Torres, as Goolsbey placed third in the 800 meters with a time of 2:23.79 and Torres was third in the 1600 meters with a time of 5:17.24.

Additional top eight finishes from the Cub boys included Harper Havron, who took fourth in the 200 meters (24.97); Torres took fourth in the 800 meters (2:28.22) and Goolsbey tied for sixth in the pole vault (7-6).

“Our eighth graders are well-prepared to transition to the high school level, and we are confident they will make a meaningful impact next year,” Haney said. “Finishing the season on a high note gives them great momentum heading into that next chapter.”

There were no team scores kept at the Best of the Best.

Haney added that this was the most athletes that Powell Middle School has taken to the Best of the Best in Lander.

“Other coaches were impressed with how many athletes we brought,” Haney added.

LANDER BEST OF THE BEST

SEVENTH GRADE

200 meters — 26. Ryder DeBoer 29.77, 28. Zaiden Powell 29.98

400 meters — 6. Carter Gambill 1:02.36, 16. Auzzy Carter 1:05.66, 31. Zaiden Powell 1:09.18

800 meters — 18. Kendall Matthews 2:37.06

100 meter hurdles — 5. Tucker McDonald 17.99, 11. Ryder DeBoer 19.89

4x100 relay — 6. Ryder DeBoer, Carter Gambill, Zaiden Powell and Tucker McDonald 55.51

800 sprint medley relay — 7. James Heny, Bret Clausen, Auzzy Carter and Rhett Goolsbey 2:04.71

High jump — 2. Carter Gambill 5-2, 5. Tucker McDonald 4-10

Pole vault —  2. Tucker McDonald 8-0, 3. Kendall Matthews 7-6

Long jump — 17. Carter Gambill 14-1 1/4, 21. Bret Clausen 13-9 3/4, 23. Ryder DeBoer 13-8

Triple jump — T20. Rhett Goolsbey 29-7, 29. James Heny 28-3 1/2

Discus — 10. James Heny 84-8

EIGHTH GRADE

100 meter dash — 10. Harper Havron 12.72

200 meters — 4. Harper Havron 24.97, 18. Forest Kleinfeldt 26.39

400 meters — 9. Forest Kleinfeldt 58.66

800 meters — 3. Russell Goolsbey 2:23.79, 4. Isaiah Torres 2:28.22

1600 meters — 3. Isaiah Torres 5:17.24

100 meter hurdles — 13. Karzten Carter 17.87

200 meter hurdles — 16. Karzten Carter 33.63

800 sprint medley relay — 5. Justin Marquez, Forest Kleinfeldt, Harper Havron and Russell Goolsbey 1:52.38

High jump — 2. Karzten Carter 5-4

Pole vault — T6. Russell Goolsbey 7-6

Long jump — 15. Isaiah Torres 16-1 1/4

Triple jump — 12. Forest Kleinfeldt 33-11 1/2, 21. Russell Goolsbey 32-6 1/2

Shot put — 2. Justin Marquez 42-8, T10. Morgan Rodriguez 34

Discus — 12. Tristen Snell 96-5