"All we want is your best," was the phrase that resonates from Bob Shay's long and productive stint as a four-sport coach and teacher with the Blaine County School District.
Shay's influence among young people was so great that Wood River High School names its annual track and field meet for the longtime teacher who died in March 2000 at age 73.
And Tuesday was a beautiful afternoon for the Bob Shay Invitational, which brought athletes from six schools to Phil Homer Field's oval in Hailey.
Fittingly, the Wood River girls dominated the sprints and distance runs to nip Gooding 159-151 for the team title. On the boys' side, Gooding had 66 distance points and 50 in the field for a 143-121 over Wendell. Wood River (110) was third.
The Wolverines of coaches Jeannie Bradshaw and J.C. Nemecek boasted double gold medalists in freshman Delaney Fox in 100-meter dash (13.2 seconds) and 200m (27.7), and junior Ashley Rendahl in 1600m (6:26.9) by seven seconds and 3200m (13:04.9) by 33 seconds.
Rendahl added a fourth place in 800m run to finish the day with 24 important points.
Wood River's other first-place finishers were junior Elissa Baker in a 400m photo finish (1:06.1) and freshman Sloan Brandon in high jump (4-8). Brandon finished second behind Baker in the 400m dash.
Senior Scott Bartlett was a big 28-point gun for the Wolverine boys with gold medals in the 100m dash (11.5) and long jump (20-3 ½) plus a second place in the 400m dash (54.9).
Another Hailey senior, Jesse Stark, won the high jump (6-1), and junior Corbin Miniard captured the shotput (46-0). Wood River finished with 55 points in the field and 35 in the sprints.
The Wolverines amassed 60 points in sprints, 53 in distances and 34 in the field.
Other double winners were Mackay's Sydney McKelvey long and triple jump, Gooding's Briana Evans shotput and discus, Wendell's James Carrillo 200m and triple jump, and Glenns Ferry's Glen Hance in both hurdles events.
Wood River visits the Rigby Invitational today, Friday, April 28. Top Hailey placings from Tuesday's home meet:
1sts—Scott Bartlett 100m (11.5) and long jump (20-3 ½); Jesse Stark high jump (6-1); Corbin Miniard shotput (46-0); Delaney Fox 100m (13.2) and 200m (27.7); Ashley Rendahl 1600m (6:26.9) and 3200m (13:04.9); Sloan Brandon high jump (4-8); and Elissa Baker 400m (1:06.1).
2nds—Scott Bartlett 400m (54.9); Micah Floyd 300m intermediate hurdles (43.2); Rosie Gilchrist 3200m (13:37.2); Allie Freund 100m high hurdles (18.8); Charlene Fields 100m (13.7); Sloan Brandon 400m (1:06.1).
3rds—Jesse Stark long jump (19-1 ¼) and pole vault (10-0); Corbin Miniard discus (129-9); Matt Libert 200m (24.8); Tess Dahlgren 3200m (14:24.9); Ellen Ard 100m (13.9); Allie Freund pole vault (6-0); Charlene Fields long jump (14-4); Kylie Anderson 200m (30.1); and Hannah McNees 1600m (6:41.9).
4ths—Matt Libert 100m (12.0); Micah Floyd 110m high hurdles (18.8); Carl Browning shotput (37-5 ½); Grayson Thompson 400m (57.8); Hannah McNees 3200m (14:27.3); Sloan Brandon triple jump (30-1 ½); Ashley Rendahl 800m (2:42.3); Allie Freund 300m intermediate hurdles (54.6); and Julia Bowman 1600m (6:42.8).
5ths—Grayson Thompson 100m (12.1); Gerardo Garcia 1600m (5:22.3) and 3200m (11:25); Matt Libert long jump (17-7 ½); Josh Bellinger 800m (1:14.8); and Kylie Anderson 100m (14.6).
6ths—Carl Browning 100m (12.3) and discus (112-0); Pedro Morales 1600m (5:39) and 3200m (11:29); Rosie Gilchrist shotput (19-3); Noilyn Corrales long jump (13-6); and Tess Dahlgren 1600m (7:09.7).
Ashley Rendahl, Wood River junior, was way out in front winning the 1600m and 3200m runs Tuesday in Hailey. Photo by David N. Seelig
