After a record-breaking run by Justice Ramos and several other personal-best results from other athletes, the Montezuma-Cortez High School track teams left the Southwest League Meet in Grand Junction on May 2 with smiles on their faces.
Ramos leads boys to fourth place
Leading the way for the boys team on what turned out to be an exciting day for M-CHS was senior Justice Ramos, who won the 400-meter dash (50.26) and 800-meter run (1:56.95).
Ramos’ time in the 800 was especially gratifying since it broke the M-CHS school record and ranked as the fourth-best time by a Class 4A runner in Colorado this season.
“Justice ran an outstanding time and put himself in a good position heading towards state,” said boys head coach Bob Archibeque. “He’s one of those kids who works extremely hard and does whatever you ask him. He deserves everything that he gets.”
Also earning a top overall finish was M-CHS’s 4x200-meter relay made up of Seth Long, Josh Ramos, Elisha Vaquera and Justice Ramos, which finished first overall (1:33.88).
The Panthers 4x400-meter relay team – Josh Ramos, Justice Ramos, Haley and Vaquera – was nearly as impressive, finishing second overall (3:26.58) behind Fruita Monument.
“Our relays ran very well,” said Archibeque. “Everybody did their part, and the teams are working well together.”
Other top individual finishers for M-CHS included Haley, who finished second in the triple jump (40 feet, 9 inches); Long, who placed third in the 200-meter dash (23.48); and Vaquera, who came in fourth in the long jump (19 feet, 5 inches).
Dante Dennison finished fourth in the shot put (46 feet, 5 inches); Skylar Yarbrough placed fourth in the high jump (5 feet, 10 inches); and Coby Baer finished fifth in the long jump (19 feet, ¼ inch).
“Our long jumpers really showed some improvement,” said Archibeque. “Skylar Yarbrough also showed huge improvement. I thought our boys had an outstanding weekend.”
The M-CHS boys finished fourth in the six-team field, and Fruita Monument placed first overall.
Girls place sixth overall
The M-CHS girls placed several individuals in the top 5 of their respective events and finished sixth overall in the six-team field. Durango High School won the meet.
“Many of our girls set personal bests for the season, which was one of our big goals going into the meet,” said girls head coach Paul Koops. “As the season ends, all you really want to see is that you are improving your times.”
Tayla Topaha led the way for the Lady Panthers with a second-place finish in the discus (105 feet) and a fourth-place finish in the shot put (31 feet, 3 inches).
Weslie Kirks finished third in the 100-meter hurdles (16.97); Ashley Wood finished sixth in the 100-meter hurdles; and Shaunnell Butler placed fourth in the 100-meter hurdles (17.17) and fourth in the 300-meter hurdles (51.98).
“It was a great day for our hurdlers,” Koops said. “They are just a great group, and they work hard.”
Next up for the M-CHS track teams will be the Tiger Invite, which will take place in Grand Junction, May 8-9. State qualifiers will wrap up their seasons at the state meet in Denver, May 14-16.