Montezuma-Cortez High School officially kicked off the track and field season in sunny Moab, Utah, at the Red Rocks Invitational.
Senior discus thrower Ashley Lingo started the season off with a bang. She won the event for M-CHS with a heave of 108-02. Overall, M-CHS had a strong day throwing. Miranda Elliot recorded fourth- and-ninth-place distances in the discus (97-11) and shot put (25-06). Laura Heaton took second and 12th in the shot put (34-02) and discus (75-01).
For the Panthers, Leander Rockwell tossed the discus and shot put for fourth and 12th at 103-02 and 32-02.50. Isaac Padilla and Nick Haukeness each heaved the discus 99-04 (eighth) and 97-11 (10th). As a team, the boys took seventh out of 16 schools with 27.5 points. The girls were sixth with 54.25 points.
Heber, Utahs, Wasatch High School won the meet on both sides.
Other notable performances for the M-CHS girls include, Imari Black taking second in the girls 100-meter dash in 13.26. Amanda Gallegos placed fourth and fifth in the 400 (1:06.65) and 800 (2:50.03). Katelyn Muzzy (seventh) and Rachel Demby (eighth) also placed top-10 in the 400 at 1:07.70 and 1:07.89. Arrela Jorgensen leaped 4-04 in the high jump, which was good for eighth-place.
Ted Newcomer sprinted to fifth- and-eighth-place finishes for the Panthers in the 400 and 200 in 56.30 and 25.08. Dillon Wells was 10th in the 3,200-meter run at 11:16.92.
M-CHS will compete Saturday at the Early Bird meet in Montrose at 9 a.m.