Squaring off against several larger schools and a host of tough competition from Southwest Colorado and the San Luis Valley, the Mancos High School boys and girls track teams held their own at the Ron Keller Invitational track meet in Durango on April 20.
Highlighting what was an exciting day for the Mancos boys team were the performances of senior Caden Galloway, who soared to a first-place finish in the high jump (6 feet, 5 inches), and senior Caden Showalter, who placed first in the discus (143 feet, 6½ inches) and second in the shot put (48 feet, 8 inches).
Also finishing top-three in at least one individual event were freshman Connor Showalter, who placed third in the discus (131 feet, 3 inches) and ninth in the shot put (47 feet, ½ inch), and junior Anthony Medina, who crossed the line second in the 200-meter dash (23.83) and leapt to a fourth-place finish in the long jump (19 feet, 8 inches).
Senior Vassar Stephens placed seventh in the high jump (5 feet, 8 inches) and ninth in the long jump (17 feet, 10½ inches), and freshman Edgar Hernandez crossed the line ninth in the 400-meter dash (1:00.29) and the 800-meter run (2:15.62).
Other top finishers for the boys team included junior Breccen Morelli, who placed seventh in the 800-meter run (2:15.62), freshman Connor Sehnert, who raced to a seventh-place finish in the 3200-meter run (12:37.81), and senior Hunter Hoover, who finished ninth in the triple jump (35 feet, 11 inches).
The Mancos boys team finished fifth overall in the team standings of the 13-team meet. Durango High School finished first overall.
On the girls side, Mancos was led by sophomore Grace Manning, who placed sixth overall in the 400-meter dash (1:04.76). Sophomore Sage Low finished eighth in the high jump (4 feet, 6 inches), and freshman Hannah Sparks placed eighth in the long jump (13 feet, 11½ inches).
In the sprint events, the Lady Jays were led by freshman Desi Dainty-Guilfoyle, who crossed the line ninth in the 100-meter dash with a time of 14.41.
The Mancos girls team finished 11th out of 12 teams in the team standings. Durango High School finished first overall in the meet.
Next up for both the Mancos girls team and the Mancos boys teams will be the Aztec Invitational, which will take place in Aztec, N.M., today.
