NEW PLYMOUTH, Idaho — The La Grande and Cove track and field teams got a start to the season competing at the Fired Up At New Plymouth meet in New Plymouth, Idaho, on Thursday, March 14.

The La Grande girls grabbed the team title after compiling 196.5 points, edging out McCall-Donnelly’s 187-point total.

Coming off a successful cross-country season, La Grande junior Cecilia Villagomez Edvalson was the top finisher in the 400 meters and placed third in the 1,600 meters. Senior Emily Tubbs grabbed second place in the 1,600 meters and the 3,200 meters, crossing the line in the 3,200 meters behind teammate Brooke Perry, the winner in a time of 10 minutes, 11.94 seconds.

La Grande also picked up team points in the 300-meter hurdles with Lana Emerson finishing second behind teammate Taryn Mcllmoil’s first place showing with a time of 50.38 seconds.

The La Grande relay team of Samantha Vavra, Mattie Wolcott, Kylie Brown and Lana Emerson winning the 4-by-100 relay in under 53 second with a time of 52.92.

The Tigers scored the top four finishes in the javelin event, led by junior Aubrey Bisenius’ top throw of 87 feet, 9 inches. Bisenius was followed by senior Brandie MacKay in second, junior Ella Hayden in third and freshman Aubry Hamner in fourth.

The Cove girls, led by a fourth-place finish in the 4-by-200 relay, tied for seventh in the team scoring with Rimrock, Idaho. Freshman Reagan Deem, Paige Marler and Giavanna Savage teamed up with sophomore Paige Marler to cross the line in 2:16.30 in a race not even ran in Oregon track meets.

The Cove boys matched the girls in also finishing seventh in the team points. The La Grande boys finished their day in second behind McCall-Donnelly in the team standings.

Cove saw top finishes by sophomore Lee Harris winning the high jump event, William Williams winning the javelin and again winning a race not seen in Oregon. In the 4-by-800 relay, senior Eli Williams, junior Nathanael O’Reilly, sophomore William Mallory and freshman Ian Garlitz bested the rest of the field in a time 8:51.75.

For La Grande, senior Korey Newman placed second in both the 100- and 200-meter races, while freshman Ephraim Moyal made the most of the his first high school meet, winning the 400 meters in a time of 56.59. After placing third in 1,600 meters, senior Austin Uhl grabbed first place in the 800 meters, running a personal best of 2:07.76.

Sophomore Larsen Wright claimed the top spot in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 18.35 seconds.

Sophomore Lee Harris was the lone competitor to clear 5-feet-8 in the high jump, winning the event.

Both La Grande and Cove next see action on March 23 in Union at the 15th Annual Pepsi Invitational.