University of Vermont-bound Margii Driscoll is better known for her soccer skills, judging by her two Great Basin Conference West "Player of the Year" honors in 2004 and 2005.
In the final semester of her senior year, Driscoll is game for anything new, and she made an immediate impact for the Wood River High School track and field team Thursday.
Driscoll, feared for her speed and strength on the soccer pitch, brought the same attributes to the track at the Buhl Rotary Invitational. She made a big splash in her first appearance for the Hailey track team.
Recently named "Most Improved Girl" on the 2005-06 Sun Valley Junior Nordic ski team, Driscoll won the 200-meter dash in 27.85 seconds over freshman teammate and hot soccer prospect Delaney Fox (28.66). Driscoll and Fox placed second and fourth at 100m.
And Wood River won the girls' medley relay by two seconds in 1:58.32 with Charlene Fields and Ellen Ard doing the 100m sprints, Driscoll the 200m and Fox the 400m anchor leg.
Wood River girls' coach J.C. Nemecek said, "Margii was a big help for us. In the next couple of track meets she may well establish herself as a state contender. She's got that strong kick in the 200m. I really didn't think that she and Delaney could go 1-2, but they did and they also went 2-4 in the 100m."
Nemecek was also pleased with Elissa Baker's second place in the 400m dash (1:06.86). He said, "It was a great effort. She's got great strength and a natural affinity for the curve."
The fact that Ashley Rendahl, Rosie Gilchrist and Hannah McNees all knocked 20 seconds or more off their previous 3200m times was a source of pride for the coaching staff. Rendahl placed third (12:24.64).
Other Wolverine second places at Buhl, both in long jump, were Charlene Fields (15-0) and Scott Bartlett (19-7). Bartlett was a consistent point-getter with a fifth place at 100m (12.46) and sixth at 400m (55.01).
Wood River's girls (79 points) improved to fourth place in the 15-team field. Spring Creek (Nev.) won 141-87 over Burley, meaning the Wolverines were only nine points out of second place as a team.
The Spring Creek boys slipped pase Jerome 105-98. Wood River (35) was ninth.
Wood River hosted its Bob Shay Invitational meet Tuesday at Phil Homer Field. The Rigby Invitational is Friday, April 28. Top Hailey placings from Thursday's Buhl meet:
1sts—Margii Driscoll 200m (27.85 seconds); and the girls' medley relay with Charlene Fields, Ellen Ard, Driscoll and Delaney Fox (1:58.32).
2nds—Scott Bartlett long jump (19-7); Charlene Fields long jump (15-0); Elissa Baker 400m (1:06.86); Delaney Fox 200m (28.66); and Margii Driscoll 100m (13.67).
3rds—Jesse Stark high jump (5-10); Corbin Miniard shotput (44-9); and Ashley Rendahl 3200m (12:24.64).
4ths—Charlene Fields triple jump (31-2); Delaney Fox 100m (14.13); and Carl Browning discus (126-5).
5ths—Scott Bartlett 100m (12.46); and girls' 4x400m relay (4:41.18).
6ths—Scott Bartlett 400m (55.01); and Sloan Brandon 400m (1:11.0).
