For the Montezuma-Cortez High School track team, early season meets are all about progress.
Thus, although the Panthers’ team results were not stellar at the Avid Invitational in Montrose on March 18, the team left satisfied with their improvements.
Girls team continues to grow
Competing against three Colorado schools, the girls team finished third overall with 106 points. Eagle Valley High School finished first with 298 points; Montrose High School finished second with 124 points; and Olathe High School finished fourth with 82.
Leading the way for the Panthers was Tayla Topaha, who finished first in the discus (96 feet, six inches) and first overall in the shot put (28 feet, six inches).
Also with a top finish was junior Rachel Demby, who won the 400-meter dash with 1:02.74. Demby, a cross-country runner, finished third in the 1,600 (6:27.04).
Amy Campbell, who finished third in the 100 (14.02). Julia Damore enjoyed a solid day, with a fourth in the 800, (3:05.60), fifth in the 1,600 (7:01.83) and sixth in the 3,200 (15:36.89).
Other top finishers included Gabby Begay, who finished fifth in the discus (74 feet, four inches) and Kristine Candelaria, who finished fifth in the shot (25 feet, 11 inches).
Boys enjoy top finishes
Somewhat short on numbers and missing some top athletes, the boys finished third overall with 104 points. Eagle Valley won the meet with 314 points; Montrose finished second with 202 points; and Olathe came in third with 31.
Highlighting the Panthers’ day was a first-place finish by Raul Ronquillo in the 200 (26.38) and a first place by Justice Ramos in the 400 (53.52).
“Raul is a baseball kid, and this was his first meet,” said Panthers head coach Bob Archibeque.
Leander Rockwell finished second in the discus (126 feet, 9 inches), Isaac Padilla, finished fifth in the discus (118 feet), Victor Perez, who finished fourth (40 feet, 9¾ inches) and Dante Dennison, who finished fifth (39 feet, 10¾ inches).
Our throws are coming around,” said Archibeque. “(Throwing coaches) Dan Porter and Jason Waymon are doing a great job coaching, and the kids are performing.”
Rounding out the Panthers’ top-five finishers, Josh Ramos was fourth in the 400 (57.42) and fifth in the 800 (2:19.78) and Chris Fish placed fourth in the 200 (27.68).
Next up will be the Mickey Dunn Invite, which will be held in Grand Junction on March 22.