Over the past several years, the Mancos High School boys track team has asserted itself as one of the top Class 2A teams in the state and with several athletes set to compete in this year’s state track meet in Lakewood, May 19-20, the Bluejays figure to again rank among the state’s top teams.
Leading the way for the Bluejays will be freshman Caden Showalter, who will enter his first state meet as a high-schooler ranked eighth in the discus (135 feet, 6 inches) and 13th in the shot put (43 feet). A podium finish may be in the cards for Showalter in the discus, where he is less than 7 feet behind the state’s No. 3-ranked discus thrower, Cedaredge High School’s Patrick Walker (142 feet).
Also looking for a solid finish in an individual event will be senior Jake McKie, whose improvement over the past four years has been nothing short of spectacular. Look for McKie to run a career-best time in the 3200-meter run, where he is currently ranked 13th (10:41.44).
Representing the Bluejays in the jumping events will be Griff Huver, who is currently ranked 11th in the long jump (20 feet, ½ inch) and Anthony Medina, who is ranked 14th in the same event (19 feet, 8½ inch).
Caden Galloway will join Medina and Huver in looking to soar when he competes in the high jump where he is currently ranked 16th (5 feet, 8 inches).
In the 4x800-meter relay, the Bluejays will be represented by Breccan Morelli, Teslin Stetcher, McKie and Caleb Yoder. The blue and white clad foursome will look to improve on their No. 7 seeding (8:48.01), although top-ranked Burlington High School (8:31.82) will likely be out of reach.
Although no female athletes from Mancos qualified for this year’s state meet, look for next year’s girls team to be a factor as several promising middle school runners will join the ranks with an eye toward returning the Bluejays logo to the state’s top track event.