Kicking off their season with several returning state qualifiers and some talented newcomers, the Dolores High School boys and girls track teams appear to be primed for success.
On the girls' side, the Lady Bears figure to be led junior hurdler Larissa Umberger, senior sprinter Olivia Wright, senior middle-distance runner Kelly Charles and senior jumper Taylor Elder, who all qualified for state last season.
Seniors Faith Pejsa and Jessica Schliesser will look to score points for the Lady Bears in throwing events, while freshman Sierra Schwartz, sophomore Shavargus Noyes, sophomore Josie Bernholtz and junior Nicole Kibel will look to contribute in various relays and individual events.
"This is the first year that we'll actually try to win (the San Juan Basin League) in a long time," said head coach Nick Kohler. "We'll have fun with that, and we'll have a chance."
On the boys' side, Dolores will likely be led by senior sprinters Mikeal Ford, Guy Wallace and Rylan Huff, who combined to help the Bears finish 10th in the state in the 4x200-meter relay last season.
Also figuring to play a key role for Dolores will be sophomore Ruben Gomez, who competed on the Bears state qualifying 4x100 meter relay last season, and sophomore Tristan Medina, who will run track for the first time this year.
"My guess is that Gomez is going to qualify for state in the long jump and the triple jump," said Kohler. "Medina is a nice little athlete. Our goal for this season is to take a handful of athletes to state just like we do every year and we want to get better each week."
Girls flash potential in season-opener
Competing against 14 other teams at the Early Bird Invitational in Farmington on March 7, several Dolores girls placed in the top 15 individually, and the Lady Bears placed 13th overall.
Among the team's top finishers were Wright, who placed sixth in the 400-meter dash (1:07.01) and 10th in the 200-meter dash (30.21), and Noyes, who tied for seventh in the long jump (4 feet, 2 inches) and placed 10th in the 100-meter hurdles (19.06).
Schwartz placed ninth in the 300-meter hurdles (56.62) and 12th in the 100-meter hurdles (19.42), Charles placed 10th in the 400 (1:09.91), and Bernholtz placed 12th in the 400 (1:11.43).
(Wright) really stood out," said Kohler. "I thought that her 400 would be a couple of seconds slower than it was at this point in the year."
Boys open with top 15 finishes
Facing off against fourteen other teams at the Early Bird Invitational, the boys team finished 12th overall.
Gomez placed fourth in the long jump (18 feet, 3 ½ inches), junior Trevor Robinson placed ninth in the 100-meter dash (12.38) and 12th in the 200-meter dash (25.78) and Huff placed 10th in the 200-meter dash (25.55) and 15th in the 100-meter dash (12.62).
Medina rounded out the Bears top finishers with a 15th-place finish in the 400-meter dash (58.17).
Next up for the boys and girls track team will be a meet at Piedra Vista in Farmington on March 14.