Two meets into their season, several members of the Montezuma-Cortez High School girls and boys track teams are already rounding into midseason form.
The teams’ most recent impressive performance came at the Piedra Vista Invitational in Farmington on March 16 where the boys team placed third overall and the girls team placed fourth overall in the 13-team meet.
Again leading the way for the boys team was senior hurdler Titus Jackson, who finished first in the 110-meter hurdles (16.49), fourth in the 300-meter hurdles (44.61) and eighth in the high jump (5 feet, 8 inches).
Senior Cordell Baer finished second in the triple jump with a mark of 42 feet, 1¾ inches; junior William Gallegos finished third in the 400-meter dash (53.30); and junior Valentino Rodriguez placed third in the 100-meter dash (11.76) and fourth in the 200-meter dash (23.83).
Other top 10 finishers included senior Stevie Fuentes, who placed seventh in the 400-meter dash (54.62); senior Gabriel Vaquera, who placed eighth in the 3200-meter run (11:50.15); and junior Chris Matimba, who crossed the line ninth in the 100-meter dash (12.19).
Junior Andrew Wood placed fifth in the long jump (19 feet, 2 inches) and eighth in the triple jump (37 feet, 11 inches); senior Jens Jorgensen finished seventh in the high jump (5 feet, 8 inches); sophomore Jayden Karo finished eighth in the long jump (19 feet, 1 inch); junior Will Brown finished ninth in the 110-meter hurdles (20.77); and senior Harley Benally, who placed 10th in the 110-meter hurdles (21.52).
On the girls’ side, M-CHS was led by senior Morgan Short, who completed a busy day by placing first in the long jump (16 feet, 3 inches); second in the 200-meter dash (27.35); third in 300-meter hurdles (49.72) and third in the 100-meter dash (13.17).
Also cracking the top-three in individual events were sophomore Kylie Lake, who placed second in the 400-meter dash (1:07.84) and sophomore Paige Yabrough, who finished third in the discus (95 feet, 1 inch).
Freshman Elaina Short continued her impressive early season by placing sixth in the 200-meter dash (28.67) and eighth in the 100-meter dash (13.92); sophomore Cassandra McCully crossed the line eighth in the 300-meter hurdles (57.86); and sophomore Susanna McDonald finished 10th in the 300-meter hurdles (1:02.20).
Next up for both M-CHS track teams is the Abel Velasquez Invitational, which will take place in Ignacio on April 8.