The Lady Panthers track and field team keeps getting better.
Throwers Ashley Lingo, Laura Heaton and Randy Elliott had another day at the office at the Montrose Invitational last Saturday.
The trio helped lead the Montezuma-Cortez High School girls to a third-place team finish, behind Paonia and Delta.
Heaton and Lingo both threw the shot put and discus 36-4 1/2 and 121-4, which were both good for second-place. Elliot was right behind Lingo in the discus in third at 108-8.
Sophomore sprinter Imari Black had a career day. She finished second in the 100- and-200-meter dash races in 13.13 and 26.88. Black also helped lead the 800-sprint medley relay team to a win at 1:56.19. Others in relay were Amanda Gallegos, Katelyn Muzzy and Chantell Ford. Gallegos sprinted to a third-place time of 2:29.34 in the 800. Tori Laymon placed fifth in the 200 (29.72), while Muzzy and Jordan Miller came in third (50.41) and sixth (18.32) in the 300- and-100-meter hurdles.
As a team, the girls finished with a strong third-place showing against a deep and talented field. Lady Panthers coach Paul Koops said via email.
The Panthers placed 10th as a team. Rifle won the boys championship.
Nick Haukeness led the way in the 300-hurdles at 43.20, which placed him fourth. Randy Haley traded his baseball cleats for running shoes and sprinted to a sixth-place time of 24.30 in the 200. Jaron Carver took seventh in the 400 at 54.14. The boys followed the girls lead by winning the 800-sprint relay in 1:42.98.
M-CHS will compete Friday and Saturday at the Grand Junction Tiger Invitational.