A lot of unknowns surround the Montezuma-Cortez High School track and field team.
One thing is for sure, Bob Archibeques team is ready for the starting gun.
We lost a lot of kids last year, said Archibeque, who is in his 36th season in the program as a coach, and has been the head man for 14 years. Im excited for these kids. I got a big turnout of numbers. Theyre working real hard. Were just excited for the season to start. A lot of unprovens right now.
Strong numbers are on the boys side. But the experience is green. Archibeque will oversee the boys sprinters and relay teams. One sprinter with senior leadership is Wiley Kirks. He will also participate in the jumping events (high, long and triple). Mack Carter carries veteran experience as well. The rest of the boys sprinters are underclassmen.
Were excited for our freshmen and sophomores. Theyre real happy to be here, Archibeque said. Were happy to coach them. Thats what we want. To keep them around three or four years. Theyre going to be the next group to take the bull by the horns, as you would say.
The girls sprinters are young, too. Juniors Amanda Gallegos and Imari Black will be the leaders, while freshman Rachel Demby looks to make an immediate impact.
Paul Koops will coach the distance runners on both sides. Jeremy Yarbrough will be in charge of the jumps and some hurdles on each side.
For the throwers (discus and shot put), the experience lacks some. Senior football players Trenton Gustafson, Kody Deavers and Stephen Candelaria are expected to be very competitive, though.
We have some good throwers, Archibeque said. They havent really proven themselves, but at the same time, they have the ability to be very competitive.
Josh Walton coaches the throwers. Perhaps where M-CHS is strongest, is in the girls field. Seniors Ashley Lingo and Laura Heaton are returning state qualifiers in the discus and shot put. Lingo, the schools girls discus distance record holder, threw for sixth-place at state last year. Heaton took ninth.
Im just trying to better myself, Lingo said. I want to PR (personal record) this year. I want to get up to 140 (feet).
Lingo plans to attend school in the fall at Central Arizona College in Apache Junction. She hopes a strong year in the discus will lead to a scholarship.
I want to get top-three at state, said Lingo, who has a PR of 131 feet. Id like to throw over 125 this weekend (in Moab, Utah).
Randy Elliot, a junior, is another Lady Panther thrower expected to challenge for state.
The season begins on Saturday in Moab at the Grand County High School meet at 9 a.m. M-CHS will host the Panther Invitational on March 23. The Southwestern League meet will be at Panther Stadium on May 10-11. M-CHS and Durango are co-hosting the event. It is the first time leagues will be in Cortez.
This is the first time it has been here. At least since Ive been here, said Archibeque about hosting the SWL meet. Were excited about that and look forward to it.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com.
