Bolstered by a pair of victories, the Laramie Lady Plainsmen track team was in second place midway through day two of the state track meet in Casper.

Laramie scored 28 points on the opening day of the three-day competition at Harry Geldien Stadium. Then, LHS added to its lead early Friday but has fallen to second place.

Junior Abigail Whitman defended her title in the 800-meters Friday morning with a victory in 2:18.73. Her winning margin was 1.28 seconds. Sophomore Libby Berryhill added a couple of more team points with a seven-place result in the same event.

Through seven scored events, as of midday Friday, the Lady Plainsmen were in second place with 40 team points, just three behind Cheyenne Central. Cody was a close third with 36 points.

On Friday morning, the state championships got off to a great start for junior Emmy Johnson, as she began her meet with two top qualifying marks. First, in the 200-meters, she ran 24.90 seconds. Then, in the 300-meter hurdles, Johnson went 45.00 seconds.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday was highlighted by the girls’ 1600-meter sprint medley relay. They set a new state record to cap off day one. The winning time was 4:13.65. Junior Rachel King, freshmen Ashlyn Bingham and Mallorie Hamel, and Whitman combined for the victory.

Junior Aubry Sanchez barely missed out on a state title in the pole vault and took second. She cleared 11 feet-6 inches but lost because of more attempts through the competition.

Whitman added a third-place finish in the 3200-meters, while Berryhill came in eighth.

Sophomore Taylor Gardner came in sixth-place in the long jump. Also Gardner and senior Ketisa Akambasi qualified for Saturday’s finals in the 100-meter hurdles.

The Laramie girls scored 28 points on the first day. They had a two-point lead over Cody and three over Central.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day one saw the Laramie Plainsmen score in one event. They received six points in the 3200-meters. Senior Derk Lyford, sophomore Micah Zeller, and junior Mason Swingholm took sixth, seventh, and eighth, respectively.

Friday started with Swingholm placing fifth in the 800-meters in 2:02.05. That added four more team points.

The best result for the LHS boys so far came from sophomore Aidan Morris. He placed second in the pole vault. Morris cleared 13 feet-6 inches in the fewest attempts. The winner cleared 14 feet.

Through seven events, as of midday Friday, the Laramie Plainsmen were in seventh place with 18 team points. Star Valley has 38 points to lead the Class 4A boys’ division with Kelly Walsh second, and Sheridan in third.

More From Y95 Country