District Track and Field Championships Crown 6A and 5A Titles, Punch State Meet Tickets
Crockett, Jensen Lead Star Performances at Blackfoot
BLACKFOOT — The district track and field championships for 6A and 5A classifications produced a string of record-breaking performances and standout individual efforts Friday, with athletes from across eastern Idaho sealing their spots at the state meet scheduled for May 15-16 at Mountain View High School.
Skyline senior Zyan Crockett was among the most decorated athletes of the day, capturing district titles in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes and anchoring the Grizzlies’ 4×400 relay team to a first-place finish in a personal-best time of 3:29.97. His 10.80-second clocking in the 100 was also a personal best, as was his 22-foot, 0.5-inch mark in the long jump, where he finished second. Crockett, who only began competing in track last season, went on to win the state title in the 100 last year and place third in the 200. He is set to join the Idaho State University football program in the fall.
When asked whether expectations had shifted after his breakout season, Crockett kept his focus straightforward. “No, not really,” he said. “Honestly, it’s just repetition.”
The 5A 100 final at state figures to be highly competitive. Crockett’s 10.80 currently ranks fifth on the 5A performance list, and 18 sprinters across the classification have broken the 11-second barrier this season.
Idaho Falls distance standout Jaycee Jensen swept the 5A 800, 1,600, and 3,200 at the district meet, earning three state berths in one afternoon. Jensen is the reigning 5A 3,200 state champion and placed third in the 1,600 at last year’s state meet. She also finished second at this year’s state cross country meet and has signed to run at Weber State. Reflecting on her final prep season as it nears its close, Jensen captured the moment simply: “It just seems like yesterday I was a freshman. It’s insane.”
Jensen’s strong effort at the 800 sparked an Idaho Falls sweep of the top three spots, with Addi Watson and Eliza Peck each qualifying for the state meet behind her.
Team Titles, School Records, and Standout Athletes
In team competition, Rigby dominated the 6A classifications, with the boys accumulating 155 points and the girls posting 136 to complete a convincing sweep. On the 5A side, Blackfoot captured the boys title with 142 points, while Idaho Falls claimed the girls crown at 147 points.
Several athletes posted marks that now lead their respective classifications heading into state:
Rigby’s Kade Scott cleared 16 feet, 4.75 inches in the pole vault, a personal best and school record that currently stands as the top mark in the state. Teammate Owen Golding clocked 10.63 seconds in the 6A 100, the fastest time in that classification this season. Golding has broken 11 seconds in seven races this year and has won nine of his last 10 outings. Rigby’s Brayden Maughan won both the shot put (54-7) and discus (177-10).
Blackfoot sophomore Owen Gregory won the 5A 800 and is looking to defend his state title in the event. Teammate Eva Grimm set a personal record in the discus at 150 feet, 1 inch — the top 5A mark by nearly 19 feet. Boedy Callister of Blackfoot hit 45-3 in the triple jump, moving to the top of the 5A state list.
Hillcrest sophomore Chloe Scott won the 5A girls 100 in a personal-best 12.54 seconds. Skyline freshman Stevie Reed captured the 5A girls 400 in 58.24, ranking third statewide in the classification, and also won the 300 hurdles in 46.30. Skyline’s Benjamin Thomas posted the top 5A time this season in the 110 hurdles at 14.77.
Highland senior Nash Randall, who recently signed a letter of intent to play college baseball in Idaho, attends the same school as a pair of sophomore hurdlers — Keenan Garmendia (14.82) and Beckett Budge (14.94) — who both placed on the 6A state performance list in the 110 hurdles. Skyline High School, which fields multiple state-caliber competitors including Crockett and Thomas, continues to be a consistent presence among 5A programs.
Rigby’s girls pole vault contingent of Kaylei Kelley, Gracie West, Elizabeth Poston, and Ella Golding finished 1-2-3-4, all earning state meet qualifications. Brinley Bybee of Rigby won both the long jump and triple jump, posting a personal-best 39-3.75 in the latter.
On the injury front, Highland hurdler Spencer Van Orden did not compete after sustaining a hamstring injury at a prior meet. He is expected to seek hardship approval through the Idaho High School Activities Association in hopes of competing at state.
What Comes Next
The 6A and 5A state track and field meet is scheduled for May 15-16 at Mountain View High School. Athletes who qualified at Friday’s district championships will compete for individual and team titles across both classifications. Several eastern Idaho competitors enter the state meet with the top marks in their respective events, setting the stage for a competitive and potentially record-setting weekend.