Since arriving at Mancos High School just over four years ago, Jake McKie and Simon Kearns have pushed each other through countless training runs and competed side-by-side.
Therefore, it seemed fitting when the two stalwart seniors took to the track at the Pine River Invitational in Bayfield on April 13 and scored their team’s lone victories as McKie finished first in the 3200-meter run (10:54.92), and Kearns took top honors in the 1600-meter run (4:56.24). Kearns also finished seventh in the 800-meter run (2:12.81).
Other Top 3 finishers for the boys team included sophomore Caden Showalter, who placed third in the discus (135 feet, 4 inches) and third in the shot put (46 feet, 7 ½ inches). Sophomore Breccen Morelli finished second in the 800-meter run (2:07.60), and sophomore Anthony Medina leaped to a second-place finish in the long jump (20 feet, 7½ inches). Medina also finished seventh in the 200-meter dash (24.32) and ninth in the 800-meter run (2:18.83).
Also turning in impressive performances for the boys team in distance events was senior Alex Fleitz, who placed sixth in the 1600-meter run (5:10.64) and eighth in the 800-meter run (2:17.83), senior Zane Wilson, who crossed the line ninth in the 3200-meter run (12:05.65), and sophomore John Lund, who placed 10th in the 1600-meter run (5:32.18).
Senior Cameron Fury led his team in the high jump with a sixth-place finish (5 feet, 6 inches), and senior Peyton Suazo finished 10th in the high jump (5 feet, 2 inches).
The Mancos boys team finished fifth overall in the 12-team meet with 62.75 points. Bayfield High School finished first with 159 points.
In the girls’ portion of the meet, Mancos was led by freshman Grace Manning, who placed fifth in the 800-meter run (2:34.11), and junior Kristen Fogel, who finished ninth in the shot put (27 feet, 7½ inches).
Other Top 15 finishers for the girls team included freshman Kylie Guiles, who placed 13th in the 1600-meter run (7:56.30), junior Geri Montoya, who crossed the line 15th in the 100-meter dash (14.78), and senior Hope Morelli, who finished 15th in the 1600-meter run (8:42.75).
The Mancos girls finished 12th overall with six points. Alamosa High School won the meet with 196 points overall.
Next for both Mancos teams will be the Aztec B&B Invitational in Aztec on April 20.