With the conclusion of its regular season quickly approaching, the Dolores High School track teams competed twice in four days in hopes of boosting their conditioning heading into the postseason.
Girls earn several wins
Competing at the Abel Velasquez Invitational in Ignacio on April 11, the Dolores High School girls' team finished third in a seven-team field.
"Overall, the team did well, but the problem was that we had prom," said head coach Nick Kohler. "We had a full contingency of athletes in the morning, but most of our team left early."
Among the individual event winners for the Lady Bears were Larissa Umberger, who finished first in the 100-meter hurdles (18.35); Taylor Elder, who placed first in the long jump (16 feet, 2 inches); and Jessica Schleisser, who finished 1st in the discus (93 feet, 6 inches).
Other top-five finishes for Dolores included Olivia Wright's third-place finish in the 100-meter dash (14.03); Teegan Hite's third-place finish in the 1600-meter run (6:12.56); Elder's second- place finish in the triple jump (30 feet, 7 inches); and Schleisser's fourth- place finish in the shot put (24 feet, 10 inches).
Returning to the track for the Ron Keller Invitational in Bayfield on April 14, Dolores fought cold conditions and finished in the bottom quarter of the field.
Wright led the way for the Lady Bears with a first-place finish in the 100-meter dash (14.00). Hite finished second in the 3200-meter run (13:34.91); Umberger placed third in the 100-meter hurdles (17.49), Elder placed third in the long jump (15 feet, 11¾ inches); and Sierra Schwartz, fourth in the 300-meter hurdles (55.50).
"We had six ineligible kids, and two kids were sick, so we didn't have our full roster," Kohler said.
Ford leads boys team
Hitting the track at the Abel Velasquez Invitational, Dolores placed sixth as a team, and Mikeal Ford finished first in the 100-meter dash (11.67).
"Mikeal ran a good time, and it's a good facility," said Kohler. "He's setting himself up to be on the podium at state. He is progressing well."
Also cracking the top five were Brandon Donaldson, who finished third in the triple jump (37 feet, 3¾ inches) and fourth in the 100-meter dash (12.40); Tristan Medina, fourth in the 300-meter hurdles (44.94); and Trevor Robinson, fifth in the 100-meter dash (12.46).
At the Ron Keller Invitational, Ford placed third in the 100-meter dash (11.84); and the Bears 4x100 relay team - Donaldson, Ford, Rylan Huff and Trevor Robinson - also placed third (44.60).
Next up for the Dolores track teams will be the Bayfield Invitational, in Bayfield on April 18.
"At this point in the season, we want to keep everybody healthy," Kohler said. "We have five track meets in a two-week period, and these meets are important to us."