Star Valley’s Valerie Jirak Wins Heptathlon at the Arcadia Invitational in California

Star Valley senior Valerie Jirak displayed her terrific all-around skills in track and field with a victory at the Arcadia Invitational in California on Friday and Saturday. Jirak scored 4,920 points through the seven events and won by nearly 400 points over the next closest competitor in the heptathlon. In addition, she set two school records during the event.

STAR VALLEY’S VALERIE JIRAK STARS AT THE ARCADIA INVITATIONAL TRACK MEET

Jirak began with a second place in the 100-meter hurdles at 14.56 seconds. That set a new Star Valley High School mark. She tied for first in the high jump at 1.68 meters or 5-6, which also set a new school record. Jirak was third in the shot put (9.02 meters), second in the 200 meters (25.47), tied for first in the long jump at 5.33 meters, took fourth in the javelin (26.37 meters), and won the 800 meters at 2:20.16.

The senior signed her National Letter of Intent last fall at Duke, where she will compete as a multi-eventer.

SEVERAL OTHER WYOMING STUDENT-ATHLETES COMPETED AT THE ARCADIA INVITATIONAL

Star Valley’s Khale Clinger tied for 4th place in the men’s high jump open division. He cleared 6-3. Other competitors from SVHS included Kammi Merrit in the women’s 300-meter hurdles open division. She took 5th place in her section at 45.83 seconds. Habtamu Wetzel was 27th in the men’s 3200 meter run open 3 division. Jase Burton finished 26th in the men’s 3200-meter rated division.

Riverton senior Kaden Chatfield finished 13th in the men’s 1-mile open division at 4:23.50.

From Cheyenne Central, Race Morrell placed 8th in the men’s 1-mile Rising Stars division at 4:22.49. Trevor Schmidt was 28th in the men’s 3200-meter run open 2 division. Tegan Krause came in 8th in his section of the men’s 100-meter dash open division.

Finally, Reed McFadden from Lander competed in two events. He finished 7th in the men’s 110-meter hurdles open division at 15.393 seconds. McFadden placed 6th in the men’s 300-meter hurdles seeded race at 39.12 seconds.