Mancos Bluejays track knows where the target is pointed.
Having won the last two 2A San Juan Basin League titles, other teams have their marks sighted. Mancos simply has its marks set.
We graduated a really good group of boys from last years squad, Mancos track and field coach Alan Mathews said. Fortunately, we have a good handful of boys that are coming back that have state track meet experience. So thats good.
The Bluejays as a team finished 11th in 2A last year and 10th in 2010. Mathews wants better this season.
I think going in to this season, one of our goals is to improve upon that, he said. The main thing for us right now, is just to work hard and to get in shape. Try to get regrouped and get back on track. Thats tough with high school kids. Many come in with very little base work, and you only have a short amount of time to turn them around and get them ready for (state in) Denver.
Senior Kenny Philpot placed second at state in the high jump last year. He is a favorite in the event this year.
Our most notable returning kid is Kenny Philpot, Mathews said.
Junior Branson Mitchell has qualified for state each year for the Bluejays. His specialty is the 400-meter dash, where he was ninth a year ago. Mitchell wants top-five this year and is striving to take state in the event during his Mancos career.
I really hope I return to state. It was fun last year, he said. I didnt do so good in the 400 (last year). I want to do better and at least place top-five in the 400 at state. One of my goals is to eventually win state in the 400.
Mitchell also qualified for state on the 4 x 100- and-200-relay teams.
I hope our 4 x 1 and 2 teams get there. Relays at state are fun, too, he said. I think our relay teams are going to be good. Me and Connor (Jankowski) are returning. Were getting Anthony (Reiners) back. Im not too worried about relays. I think were going to do good in those.
Trey Gordanier is a state returner in the triple jump. Justin Burton looks to contend for a state spot in the distance events (800, 1,600 and 3,200). Brandon McKie will challenge for state in the jumps and Reiners will, too, in the hurdles.
We really do have a pretty good group of boys back, Mathews said. We also have a good group of young boys coming in. We have 23 boys this year.
For the Lady Bluejays, its a new team of six girls, except one. Devin Kroeker placed 10th at state as a junior in the high jump.
Its exciting. I love being a leader, she said. Its just going to be interesting to see how everyone else grows, as well as myself with them, and adjusting to the group. This year is a lot different than what Im used to working with. But it should be really good. Im excited. I wish I had another year, actually.
The athletic senior has a goal of top-five in the event this season at state. But has a major goal of breaking the school record in the high jump.
My goal with the high jump has always been beating the record, Kroeker said. This year, its a top-notch goal. Nothing else really matters to me personally. It would be me setting the bar higher for someone else, and making them work harder than I had to.
Kroeker has been doing more strength training this season to achieve her high goals in the high jump.
The first meet is today at the Piedra Vista High School Invitational at 9 a.m., in Farmington, N.M.
We like to spend the early portion of our season down south in warmer weather. We feel its an advantage, Mathews said. Its only an hour bus ride. Rather than trying to travel to Delta or somewhere else thats way out of the way. You go down to Farmington or Aztec (N.M.), youre going to see all the competition you want. You get to really see some good kids, which is a big advantage.
Some other meets this season include the Montezuma-Cortez Invitational on March 23. The Bluejays will try to defend their Southwest Invitational title on April 21, at Cortez Middle School.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at [email protected].
