Over the course of their high school careers, Jake McKie, Simon Kearns and Caleb Yoder have been among the most impressive distance-running trios in Mancos High School history.
Thus, it was hardly surprising when, competing at the Aztec B&B Invitational in Aztec, April 20-21, all three senior runners broke the five-minute mark in the 1600-meter run as McKie placed fifth (4:44.79), Kearns placed eighth (4:51.54), and Yoder placed 12th (4:55.69).
All three runners also produced Top 10 finishes in at least one other distance event as Kearns crossed the line third in the 3200-meter run (10:42.11), McKie placed sixth in the 800-meter run (2:03.70), and Yoder placed eighth in the 800-meter run (2:05.18).
Other impressive finishes for the boys’ team in distance events came courtesy of Alex Fleitz, who placed 12th in the 800-meter run (2:12.92), John Lund, who crossed the line 14th in the 3200-meter run (11:41.87), and Zane Wilson, who placed 15th in the 3200-meter run (11:44.87).
Caden Showalter ranked as the top overall scorer for his team thanks to a third-place finish in the discus (135 feet, 1 inch), a fourth-place finish in the shot put (45 feet, 11 inches), and a ninth-place finish in the high jump (5 feet, 6 inches).
Also putting up impressive numbers in jumping events were Caden Galloway, who placed third in the high jump (5 feet, 8 inches) and 15th in the triple jump (34 feet, 1 ½ inches), Hunter Hoover, who placed fifth in the high jump (5 feet, 8 inches) and 11th in the triple jump (35 feet, 7 ¼ inches), and Anthony Medina, who placed fourth in the long jump (19 feet, 7 ½ inches).
Rounding out members of the boys’ team who finished Top 15 in individual events were Grif Huver, who placed 11th in the long jump (18 feet, ½ inch), and Breccen Morelli, who finished 12th in the 400-meter dash (54.23).
On the girls’ side, Mancos was led by Grace Manning, whose impressive stride was on full display during a second-place place finish in the 800-meter run (2:32.94), and a fifth-place finish in the 1600-meter run (6:01.06).
Kylie Guiles placed 18th in the 1600-meter run (7:17.47), Hope Morelli crossed the line 19th in the 1600-meter run (8:04.78), and Geri Montoya finished 27th in the 100-meter dash (14.36).
Next up for both Mancos teams will be the Bloomfield Invitational, which will take place in Bloomfield on April 27.