Raider Boys Win Best in West, Western Conference Meets

Sidney’s Red Raider Boy’s Track and Field team continued their successful season last week with two wins, at the Best in the West Classic in Scottsbluff Tuesday, and at the Western Conference Meet in Sidney on Friday.

Sidney continued their strong showings in the running events and relays, earning 19 total medals at the Best in the West, and following that effort up with 27 medals, nine of them gold, on Friday.

The boy’s team placed first at the Best in the West with 128.5 points, followed by Chadron with 94 points and Scottsbluff with 90.5 points, and also placed first at the Western conference Meet with 171 points, followed by Scottsbluff with 133 points and Chadron with 114 points. Sidney’s girl’s team placed seventh with at the Best in the West with 39 points and placed second at the Western Conference with 106.5 points.

Perfect weather and temperature conditions helped produce outstanding performances by the boys at Best in the West, including many record-setting performances. Senior Mitch Deer won the 400 Meters with a time of 49.18, a personal record.

He was also part of the record-setting 4X800 Meter Relay team (D. Bashtovoi, M. Deer, C. Brauer, T. Johnstone) that set a Best In The West and Sidney record with a time of 8:02.29. . Senior Cameron Brauer won the 1600 Meters with a season-record time of 4:37.62 and senior Daniel Bashtovoi placed second at 4:41.39, also a season record. Junior Jacob Dowse won the High Jump clearing 6’ 05”, and senior Sawyer Dickman placed second, also clearing 6’ 05”.

Both heights were Season Records for the jumpers. Dickman said after the competition, “I was feeling really good and the conditions were perfect for jumping, so I wasn’t too surprised by the outcome.” Junior Cameron Leeling placed second in the Long Jump with a distance of 20’ 01.75”.

The girl’s team earned no gold medals at Best in the West, but still had outstanding performances. Sophomore Karsyn Leeling placed second in both the High Jump and Long Jump, and junior Rheagan Stanley placed second in the Pole Vault.

Friday’s Western Conference Meet in Sidney had similar conditions, although a bit more breezy, especially later in the day.

Again the boy’s team had an outstanding outing, with gold medals by sophomore Luke Holly in the 100 Meters, sophomore Isak Doty in the 200 Meters, and senior Mitch Deer in the 400 Meters and 800 Meters. Senior Daniel Bashtovoi won the 1600 Meters, and junior Cameron Leeling won the High Jump and the Long Jump. The 4X100 Meter Relay team (S. Dickman, I. Doty, J. Russell, L. Holly) and 4X400 Meter Relay team (M. Deer, D. Bashtovoi, J. Russell, T. Johnstone) won their events to conclude the gold medal winners for Sidney.

The girls squad was also able to take home a batch of gold medals, with sophomore Talissa Tanquary winning the 400 Meters at 1:02.58, a season record, and senior Lydia Peters winning the 3200 Meters at 13:39.83, also a season record. Sophomore Karysn Leeling won the High Jump and the Long Jump, and junior Rheagan Stanley won the Pole Vault.

Sidney was scheduled to compete on Monday, May 2 at the Alliance Invite, but the competition was cancelled due to weather. The Track and Field teams were next scheduled to compete at the Bayard B-C-D Meet on Friday, May 6.