Huskies dominate at opening meet; six meet state qualifying standards

By MARLYS GOOD
The Burlington Huskies opened the 2009 track season at the Bill Gerrard Invitational in Greybull Saturday and the 16-teams competing sat up and took notice of the 1A teams.
Coach Albert Henderson, who has 25 boys and 17 girls on the roster this year, didn’t take a full contingency to the meet (a lot of teams were not at full strength) but that didn’t hamper the Lady Huskies who powered their way to first place with 94 points. They finished 24 points above second place Cody. Lovell finished third and Big Piney fourth.
Anchoring the impressive finish were Brandy Bullinger, with first places in the 800- and 1600-meter runs and second in the 3200-run; Lindsey Wardell who won the 300-hurdles; Paige Neves, second in the 100-hurdles and second in the 300-hurdles and Michelle Fabricius who claimed second in the high jump.
Automatic qualifications were met by Wardell in the 300- and 100-hurdles and triple jump, Neves in the 100-hurdles, Michelle Fabricius in the high jump and Janet Davidson who put the shot 30-10.  The 5-2 clearing by Fabricius in the high jump was not only a personal best, but tied the school record. 
The Burlington boys took fourth with 59 points. Wind River won the meet with 115 points, far outdistancing second place Lovell, 76 points, and Big Piney, who finished with 60.
Eric McNiven was more than ready to compete as he topped the competition in three events, 400-dash, 800-run and long jump. Spencer Flores topped the triple jumpers with a 40-3.25 marking. Both automatically qualified for the state meet, McNiven in two events, long jump and 400-run, a real coup as this was the first time he had competed in the 400.
Considering there was no pole vault competition, an event both Husky teams traditionally dominate, the scores were even more impressive.
Coach Albert Henderson wasn’t as surprised by the first- and fourth-place finishes as by “the way the kids did it. Their times and distances.” Way over where they usually are for the beginning of the season — “more like what we do at mid-season.”
Burlington will be tested Saturday at the Cody Invitational — large schools, lots of athletes.
Girls: Burlington 94, Cody 70, Lovell 67, Big Piney 36, Big Horn 30, Riverside 29, Rocky Mountain 27.5, Meeteetse 27; Jackson 23.5; Pinedale 20, Wind River 16, Worland 13, Greybull 4, Shoshoni 1, Normative Services 0.
Lady Huskies, 1st, 94
100-dash: 6th, Michelle Fabricius 13.72
800-run: 1st, Brandy Bullinger 2:34.83
1600-run: 1st, Bullinger, 5:56.05.
3200-run: 2nd, Bullinger 14:14.84
100-hurdles: 2nd, Paige Neves 15.25; 6th, Lyndsey Wardell 17.36.
300-hurdles: 1st, L. Wardell 49.41; 2nd Neves 51.16.
400-relay: 3rd, Burlington  58.25.
1600-relay: 4th, Burlington 5:05.03.
3200-relay: Burlington  14.39.49.
Discus: 4th, Jamie Dehl 93-5.
High jump: 2nd, Fabricius 5-2.
Long jump: 5th, Fabricius 15-4.25.
Triple jump: 4th, L. Wardell 31-10.

Boys: Wind River 115, Lovell 76, Big Piney 60, Burlington 59, Cody 46, Greybull 35.5; Pinedale 35, Big Horn 21.5, Riverside 19, Jackson 12, Worland 6, Shoshoni 4, Normative Services 4 Meeteetse 0, Rocky Mountain 0.
Burlington boys: 4th place, 59
400-run: 1st, Eric McNiven, 51.74.
800-run: 1st, McNiven 2:10.10; 6th, Landon Tolman 2:20.00.
400-relay: 5th, Burlington  49.10.
1600-relay: 3rd, Burlington 4;10.98.
3200-relay; 4th, Burlington, 10:21.97.
High jump: 2nd, Anson George, 5-6.
Long jump: McNiven, 1st, 19-5.25.
Triple jump: 1st, Spencer Flores, 40-3.25.