The Montezuma-Cortez track team hopes that last weekend’s success carries over into the Southwestern League meet this weekend in Grand Junction.
The Panthers traveled to Montrose last Friday for the Montrose Invitational and then up to Grand Junction on Saturday for the Central Warrior Invitational.
Amy Campbell led the Lady Panthers on Friday by winning 100-meter dash (12.78) and finishing fourth in the 200 (26.61), and Weslie Kirks took fifth in the 100-meter hurdles (16.38).
Kirks also placed eighth in the triple jump (31-05.25), Tayla Topaha finished fourth in the discus (110-05) and Morgan Short was seventh in the long jump (15-02).
The boys got a second-place finish in the 400 by Elisha Vaquera (52.33), Josh Ramos took sixth in the 800 (2:06.68) and Rice Blair finished sixth in the 300-hurdles (44.78).
Then the 800-meter sprint relay team of Vaquera, Jesus Ruiz, Obed Simental and Austin Wagner finished first (1:42.00), Wagner took second in the triple jump (40-01) and Skyler Yarbrough finished sixth in the high jump (5-08).
A similar cast of characters paced M-CHS on Saturday in Grand Junction.
Campbell finished third in both the 100 (12.99) and 200 (27.33), Short was third in the long jump (16-04) and eighth in 200 (28.29), Topaha finished fourth in the discus (107-08) and Ashley Wood was seventh in 100-hurdles (18.33).
For the boys, Wagner led with a fourth-place finish in the triple jump (39-06.50), Ramos finished fifth in the 800 (2:04.38) and Vaquera was sixth in the 400 (53.15) and eighth in the long jump (19-02).
The Panthers may not have the depth to challenge for the league title this weekend, but it’s not a true concern anyway. Head coaches Bob Archibeque and Paul Koops are more interested athletes improving and qualifying for the state championships than they are with accumulating any conference accolades.
“Our approach is that we want to give our kids the best opportunity to move forward,” Archibeque explained. “We could probably score more points, but it’s not fair to those kids that have worked so hard to be in that top 18 – and that’s my goal.”
“My goals for the girls would include placing in the top three in some events, qualifying at least one relay and perhaps a couple more individuals for the state meet, and leaving a lasting impression as a team in our final appearance as a member of the Southwestern League,” Koops said in an email on Thursday.
“For most of our individuals, finishing the season with a personal bests would be a significant goal,” he added. “Improvement throughout the season, testing character and overcoming adversity all play into my goals for the girls team.”