Squaring off against familiar competition at the Ron Keller Invitational track meet in Durango on April 20, the Montezuma-Cortez High School boys and girls track teams performed well and finished second overall in the 12-team meet.
On the girls’ side, M-CHS was again led by freshman Avery Wright, who won the 100-meter dash (12.56), 200-meter dash (25.99) and 400-meter dash (57.56) in impressive fashion.
Also enjoying a solid day in the spring events was senior Aryelle Wright, who placed second in the 200-meter dash (26.15) and second in the 400-meter dash (57.98).
In the jumping events, the Lady Panthers were led by senior Morgan Short, whose leap of 15 feet, 9 inches was good enough for second place overall. Short also finished second in the 300-meter hurdles (49.64) and fifth in the 200-meter dash (27.32).
Junior Hayden Leggett placed second in the pole vault (8 feet), sophomore Paige Yarbrough finished third in the discus (99 feet. 7 inches), sophomore Devon McHenry crossed the line fourth in the 100-meter hurdles (18.23), and senior Carmen Navarro placed fifth in the 3,200-meter run (14:34.87).
The M-CHS girls team’s 4-x-100-meter relay composed of Kenzie Huston, Kylie Lake, Elaina Short and McHenry finished first overall (54.85), and the team’s 4-x-200-meter relay made up of Lake, Huston, Short and McCully finished third (1:57.56).
The Lady Panthers finished second in the 12-team meet behind team champion Durango and just ahead of Pagosa Springs High School, which finished third.
On the boys’ side, M-CHS was led by junior Titus Jackson, who placed first overall in the 300-meter hurdles (40.15) and fifth in the high jump (5 feet, 10 inches).
Three Panthers performed well in the 3,200-meter run, including sophomore John Whyte, who finished third (11:36.83); junior Davion Robinson, who placed fourth; (12:31.08); and senior Ben Castillo-Calvillo, who crossed the line fifth (12:32.75).
M-CHS was led in the sprint events by junior Valentino Rodriguez, who placed third in the 100-meter dash (11.77), and junior Tyler Cutrone, who finished fourth in the 400-meter dash (54.17).
Junior Will Brown placed third in the 110-meter hurdles (20.25), senior Jens Jorgensen finished third in the high jump (6 feet), junior Andrew Wood placed fourth in the triple jump (38 feet, 2 ½ inches), and sophomore Jayden Karo soared to a fifth-place finish in the long jump (19 feet, 2 ½ inches).
The Panthers’ 4-x-100-meter relay made up of Rodriguez, Wood, Cutrone and Matthew Broughton placed first overall (45.25), and the team’s 4-x-200-meter relay composed of Cutrone, Karo, Rodriguez and Wood placed second overall (1:34.60).
The boys’ team’s 4-x-400-meter relay comprised of Cutrone, Karo, Jackson and Stevie Fuentes also finished 2nd (3:29.64), as did the team’s 4-x-800-meter relay made up of Cutrone, Karo, Fuentes and Whyte.
The M-CHS boys’ finished second in the team standings one spot behind Durango High School and one spot ahead of Pagosa Springs High School.
Next up for both Panthers teams will be the Doherty Spartan Invitational, in Colorado Springs on May 4.