IDAHO FALLS — Harlee Hales imagines a person is always running behind her.

Hales’ imaginary follower was one of the few runners that could keep up with her Saturday at the Tiger-Grizz Invitational at Ravsten Stadium, as the Pocatello junior won the 400-meter dash and finished second in the 200-meter dash.

“I’m proud of how I did today,” Hales said. “I performed well in the 400, I did all that I could. I tried to stay focused the entire meet. It’s been good and really fun.”

Hales’ 56.74-second run in the 400 Saturday is her second-best time of the 2017 season, and she claimed her fifth victory in five 400’s this season. Hales’ average margin of victory in the 400 is 3.77 seconds, and she has won each race by at least 2.5 seconds.

“I’m running good this year,” Hales said. “I’m doing a little better than last year. I’m more ahead this year. I’m just pushing.”

Hales’ teammate Brock Gunter also earned a first-place finish.

The sophomore won the triple jump with a personal-best leap of 44-05.25 feet. Since jumping 41-02 in the IFHS Quad to open the season, Gunter has improved his triple jump score each meet.

“That was pretty good,” Pocatello coach Rick Call said. “I was surprised. He’s getting better every time.”

Blackfoot’s Michelle Pratt joined Hales and Gunter as local athletes to stand atop the podium.

The senior won the 800-meter race with a time of 2:17.72 and finished second in the 1,600-meter race. Pratt finished fifth in the 800 at last year’s Tiger-Grizz after crossing the finish line at 2:25.68.

Pratt was the defending meet champion in the 1,600, but Wyoming’s Anna Gibson used a late push to pull ahead of Pratt and take the title by more than 14 seconds.

“It’s better than I expected,” Pratt said. “But it was good. I’m happy.”

Saturday was Pratt’s fourth week back at training following an ankle injury earlier in the season. Pratt was diagnosed with a bone stress in her left ankle at the Simplot Games in February.

“It didn’t impact me much today,” Pratt said. “I was a little worried, but I got through it. I was a little tired, not ready for it.”

Pocatello’s Braxton Staples notched a third-place finish in the long jump after a 21-00.50 leap.

The junior improved from last year’s Tiger Grizz, where he jumped 18-08 and finished 16th. Saturday was also Staples’ fifth top-three finish in six events this season. He has jumped 20 feet or more in his last three meets.

“For how small I am, I’m doing pretty good,” Staples said. “I got my speed so that helps me a lot. I can jump pretty good, so I like my chances.”

Century’s Markos Huerta finished third in the 400 with a personal-best time of 50.79.

The senior jumped ahead of the pack with a quick start, but fell behind in the final half of the race.

“I went in thinking I was going to go out fast and set the pace,” Huerta said. “I was doing pretty good until the last 100 and the kid that won passed me and so did the other guy. I’m not sure how I ran, but I felt good.”

Saturday was the second consecutive year Huerta earned a third-place finish in the 400 at Tiger-Grizz. In 2016, he ran a 51.14, one of seven sub-52 second 400 races. This season, the senior has three sub-52 times in eight 400 races.

“Last year, I was running better,” Huerta said. “I’m still doing all right. It makes me a better runner being here. I’m pushed more here.”

Malad’s Hanah Peterson finished second in the triple jump and fourth in the long jump. Highland’s Vince Kelemete notched a second-place finish with a 157-11-foot toss in the discus.