While the Montezuma-Cortez High School boys’ and girls’ track teams have faced tough competition throughout the season, last week’s schedule provided the two toughest tests yet as the teams competed in the Pueblo Twilight on May 4 and the Doherty Spartan Invitational on May 5.
Setting the tone for teammates and coaches at the Pueblo Twilight was junior Aryelle Wright, who finished first in the 200-meter dash (25.69), second in the 100-meter dash (12.83), and sixth in the 400-meter dash (59.06).
Also winning an event at the 37-team meet was junior Morgan Short, who soared through the air on her way to a first-place finish in the long jump (16 feet, 10 inches). Short also finished eighth in the 200-meter dash (27.00) and 11th in the 100-meter dash (13.12).
Rounding out the members of the M-CHS girls’ team who cracked the Top 10 in at least one individual event was senior Ashley Wood, who placed sixth in both the 100-meter hurdles (18.01) and 300-meter hurdles (50.50).
Devon McHenry also placed well in what was likely the most competitive meet of her high school career to date as the freshman placed 15th in the 300-meter hurdles (54.31) and 15th in the long jump (4 feet, 7 inches).
Top finishers for the M-CHS boys’ team at the Pueblo Twilight included sophomore Titus Jackson, who placed sixth in the 300-meter hurdles (42.42), ninth in the 110-meter hurdles (16.97), and 10th in the high jump (5 feet, 7 inches).
Senior Jasen Engel crossed the line 12th in the 100-meter dash (11.49) and 13th in the 200-meter dash (23.41), while fellow senior Sonny Boren placed 16th in the 100-meter dash (11.78).
Andrew Wood rounded out members of the boys’ team who finished in the Top 20 in at least one individual event as he finished 13th in the triple jump (37 feet, 8½ inches) and 20th in the long jump (18 feet, 1 inch).
One day after competing in the Pueblo Twilight, both M-CHS teams returned to action at the Doherty Spartan Invitational, which featured teams from 35 schools and some of Colorado’s finest athletes.
Top finishers for the girls’ team included Wright, who placed second in the 100-meter dash (12.88), second in the 200-meter dash (26.12), and fifth in the 400-meter dash (59.28). Short placed sixth in the long jump (16 feet, 5½ inches), 12th in the 200-meter dash (27.41), and 13th in the 100-meter dash (49.79).
Other top finishers for M-CHS included Ashley Wood, who placed 10th in the 300-meter hurdles (49.79) and 12th in the 100-meter hurdles (17.69), and Titus Jackson, who leaped to a 15th-place finish in the high jump (5 feet, 4 inches).
Next up for both M-CHS teams will be the Grand Junction Tiger Invitational in Grand Junction on May 10.