Denny steps in after travel issues prevent Yerby from flying to Idaho, teams with Mansukhani, Pretre and Tomkinson to hold off Summit OR stars in edging Mondo Track quartet in thrilling relay

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

It was one of the most memorable performances in the nine-year history of the Nike Boise Indoor meet and it almost didn’t materialize Friday for the Menlo i Greyhounds.

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The Northern California-based group learned earlier in the afternoon that Claire Yerby, the scheduled fourth member of its 4x800-meter relay lineup, encountered travel issues resulting in her flight to Idaho being delayed and eventually canceled.

For a few hours, Kendall Mansukhani, Kyra Pretre and Charlotte Tomkinson faced the possibility of not being able to compete in the relay. That was until coach Jorge Chen reached out to sophomore Madison Denny, who was already scheduled to race the 800 and mile Saturday.

Denny not only decided to help her friends, but wound up contributing to an impressive victory over Mondo Track, which features members of Summit OR, the reigning Nike Cross Nationals champions.

Tomkinson rallied past junior Izzy Max in the final 50 meters and split 2:13 on the anchor leg to help Menlo i Greyhounds clock 9:23.94, the fourth-fastest time in meet history and No. 3 in the country this season.

Mondo Track, which had Liv Downing, Azza Borovicka Swanson and Fiona Max run its first three legs, ran 9:24.57 for the fifth-fastest time nationally this year.

Menlo i Greyhounds became the second straight California quartet to win the 4x800 relay, following Orange County Heat last year in 9:17.79. Only Davis UT has run faster than the two California relays in meet history.

St. Francis Sacramento CA freshman Cate Joaquin, who won the 2-mile race in 11:58.35, also contributed to a third-place finish for Sacramento Elite in the 4x800 relay in 10:21.43.

Ridgefield WA junior Trey Knight, who produced the all-time best prep mark with the 35-pound weight throw Jan. 12 at the Washington Indoor Preview, competed in his first meet this year with the standard high school 25-pound implement.

Knight set the meet record with a sixth-round mark of 80-5 (24.51m), improving his national lead from October.

Chugiak AK senior Daniel Bausch, who placed 16th at Foot Locker National Cross Country Championships on Dec. 8, won the boys 2-mile race in 9:25.71.

Coronado CA senior Alysah Hickey, competing for the Oregon-based Step Ur Game Up, won the girls long jump with a fourth-round effort of 19-3.75 (5.88m).

Bozeman MT senior Delaney Bahn took second in the long jump with a leap of 18-8.50 (5.70m) and won the high jump with a third-attempt clearance of 5-7 (1.70m) to edge Cascade OR freshman Emma Gates based on fewer attempts at 5-5 (1.65m).

Helena MT junior Trey Tintinger won the boys high jump with a first-attempt clearance at 6-8.75 (2.05m).

Boise ID senior Maya Maloney, representing YMCA Team Idaho, cleared a personal-best 12-6 (3.81m) to win the girls pole vault. Capital ID senior Alec Bindner, also competing for YMCA Team Idaho, prevailed in the boys long jump with a leap of 22-4 (6.80m).

Dylan Palmer, Cooper Carlson, Logan Forester and Gavin Pollock joined forces to help YMCA Team Idaho win the boys 4x800 relay for the third time in four years, clocking 8:15.12.

Lake Oswego OR junior Ava David won the girls weight throw with an effort of 48-7.50 (14.82m).

Sheldon CA junior Imani Dupree won the girls 200 in 24.96, with Tualatin OR senior Kwabena Lynn – competing for Step Ur Game Up – securing victory in the boys 200 in 22.48.

Dupree also led all qualifiers into Saturday’s 60-meter final in 7.60, with Lynn doing the same by clocking 6.96.