With the Colorado State Track Championships quickly approaching, the Montezuma-Cortez High School boys and girls track teams are rounding into form and turning in standout performances that bode well for their postseasons.
The teams’ most recent performances came Saturday at the High Altitude Challenge in Alamosa, where both groups finished second overall in the team standings of the 13-team meet behind Alamosa High School.
On the girls’ side, M-CHS was led by freshman Avery Wright, who finished first in the 100-meter dash (12.57), first in the 200-meter dash (26.50) and second in the 400-meter dash (56.86). Morgan Short also turned in three top-five finishes as the junior placed second in the 300-meter hurdles (50.14), fourth in the long jump (16 feet, 8 inches) and fifth in the 200-meter dash (28.04).
Other top finishers for the girls team included senior Aryelle Wright, who crossed the line second in the 800-meter run (2:31.09), fourth in the 100-meter dash (12.98) and eighth in the 200-meter dash (28.90).
Sophomore Ridley Dennison led her team’s distance runners with a second-place finish in the 3,200-meter run (14:30.80) and a sixth-place finish in the 1,600-meter run (6:39.62). Senior teammate Ayanna Silas placed fifth in the 1,600-meter run (6:20.08) and seventh in the 800-meter run (2:51.42).
M-CHS was led in the hurdles by sophomore Cassandra McCully, who crossed the line third in the 100-meter hurdles (17.67) and fifth in the 300-meter hurdles (53.93). Sophomore Devon McHenry placed third in the 300-meter hurdles (52.09) and fourth in the 100-meter hurdles (18.27).
Sophomore Paige Yarbrough rounded out her team’s top-10 finishers in individual event with an eighth-place performance in the discus (88 feet, ½ inch). The M-CHS girls’ 4-x-100-meter relay finished first overall (54.94).
On the boys’ side, M-CHS was led by junior Titus Jackson, who placed first in the 110-meter hurdles (15.32), first in the 300-meter hurdles (40.38), and 10th in the high jump (5 feet, 6 inches). Sophomore distance runner John Whyte also enjoyed a solid day with a second-place finish in the 3,200-meter run (11:22.43) and a third-place showing in the 1,600-meter run (4:58.57).
Top finishers for M-CHS in the middle distance events included senior Stevie Fuentes, who placed seventh in the 800-meter run (2:24.60), and junior Tyler Cutrone, who crossed the line eighth in the 400-meter dash (54.47).
Junior Davian Robinson placed fourth in the 3,200-meter run (12:06.14), senior Ben Castillo-Calvillo crossed the line sixth in the 3,200-meter run (12:59.05), and freshman Clayton Cressler finished sixth in the 200-meter dash (25.91).
Other top individual finishers for the Panthers included junior Andrew Wood, who placed sixth in the long jump (18 feet, 11 inches) and the triple jump (38 feet, 2½ inches), senior Jens Jorgensen, who placed fourth in the high jump (5 feet, 10 inches) and ninth in the triple jump (37 feet), and senior Solomon Toles, who placed ninth in the discus (95 feet, 9 inches).
The M-CHS boys’ 4-x-100-meter relay finished first overall (45.68), as did the team’s 4-x-200-meter relay (1:34.17).
Next up for both teams will be the Pueblo Twilight Invitational in Pueblo on May 3. Both teams will also compete in the Doherty Spartan Invitational in Colorado Springs on May 4.