The Montezuma-Cortez High School track teams traveled to the Abel Velasquez Invitational in Ignacio on April 7 and produced their best results of the year.
Senior Ashley Wood led the way for the girls, with top finishes in the 100-meter hurdles (17.15) and the 300-meter hurdles (49.74), and a fourth-place finish in the 200-meter dash (29.30).
Also earning top finishes for the Lady Panthers were junior Aryelle Wright, who finished first in the 100-meter dash (12.83), and freshman Devon McHenry, who tied for first in the high jump (4 feet, 4 inches), and crossed the line fifth in the 100-meter hurdles (18.34).
Freshman Ridley Dennison paced M-CHS’ distance runners with a third-place finish in the 800 (2:59.21), while junior Mandy McAfee finished fourth in the 1600-meter run (7:07.91), and freshman Cassandra McCully placed fifth in the 1600-meter run (7:48.23).
Senior Taylor Willbanks earned a fourth-place finish in the shot put (29 feet, 3 inches), and sophomore Alyvia Matimba finished fifth in the discus (78 feet, 1 inch).
Other M-CHS girls in the Top 10 in individual events were freshman Paige Yarbrough, who placed fourth in the high jump (4 feet, 2 inches), and freshman Elaina Short, who was fourth in the 100-meter dash (14.30). Sophomore Abigayle Gray was fifth in the 400-meter dash (1:14.25).
M-CHS finished first in the 11-team meet with 117 points. Del Norte finished second with 84 points, and Durango High School was third with 74 points.
The Panther boys were led by senior Sonny Boren, whose speed was on full display as he ran to top finishes in the 100-and 200-meter dashes, at 11.48 and 23.88 seconds.
Fellow senior Trey Yarbrough placed second in the 400-meter dash (54.28) and fourth in the 200 (24.63), while sophomore Valentino Rodriguez enjoyed a career-best result in the 100-meter dash when he finished third overall (11.74).
Others Top 5 finishers included sophomore Will Brown, third in the 110-meter hurdles (22.41) and fifth in the 300-meter hurdles (53.32), and sophomore Andrew Wood, fourth in the long jump (18 feet, 1 inch).
M-CHS finished third in the 11-team field with 84 points, behind team champion Mancos High School (115 points), and second-place finisher Durango High School (106 points).
Next up for the M-CHS track teams will be the Pine River Invitational, in Bayfield on April 14.