Competing against several teams from Utah at the Red Rocks Invite in Moab on March 14, the Montezuma-Cortez High School boys’ and girls’ track teams placed well vis-à-vis the competition.
Boys capture team title
On the boys’ side, M-CHS placed seven individuals in the top-five of their respective events and finished first in the meet’s 16-team field.
“There were quite a few schools there and they pushed our kids,” said M-CHS boys’ coach Bob Archibeque. “Our kids did really well time-wise.”
Among the top performers for M-CHS was Justice Ramos, who finished 1st in the 800-meter run (2:02.78), second in the 200-meter dash (23.76) and 2nd in the 400-meter dash (53.82).
Also capturing an individual title for the Panthers was senior thrower Dante Dennison, who finished 1st in the shot put (42 feet, 8 inches) and 5th in the discus (104 feet, 7 inches).
Other top finishers for M-CHS included sophomore Josh Ramos, who finished 3rd in the 400-meter dash (53.82) and 4th in the 1600-meter run (5:09.52), senior Chandler Dee, who finished 3rd in the 800-meter run (2:18.98) and 5th in the 3200-meter run (11:26.59), and junior Victor Perez, who placed 3rd in the shot put (40 feet, 7 inches).
Leading M-CHS’s underclassmen were sophomore Skyler Yarbrough, who placed 2nd in the 300-meter hurdles (48.37) and 4th in the 100-meter hurdles (20.15), and sophomore Blair Rice, who placed 3rd in the 110-meter hurdles (19.52).
“They’ll get better and better,” said Archibeque of the sophomores. “They still have plenty to work on, but I can see them really improving over the course of the season.”
Girls finish fourth overall
On the girls’ side, M-CHS placed individuals in the top-five individually and finished in 4th place as a team.
Pacing the Lady Panthers was Tayla Topaha, who placed 1st in the discus for the second consecutive week with a throw of 109 feet, 3 inches. The junior also finished 5th in the shot put (29 feet, 7 inches).
Also cracking the top-five for the girls team were senior Shaunnell Butler, who placed 4th in the 300-meter hurdles (53.83) and 5th in the 100-meter hurdles (18.43), and freshman Regina Schuster, who placed 3rd in the 400-meter dash (1:06.62).
Next up for the M-CHS girls’ and boys’ track teams will be the Nike Chandler Rotary Invitational, which will take place in Chandler, Ariz., March 20-21.
“It will be a fun deal,” said Archibeque. “The kids will get to see some kids that will eventually compete on some of the top college track teams in the nation.”