When Caden Showalter stepped into the discus circle at the Bloomfield Invitational Track Meet, which took place Friday and Saturday, the junior had a feeling that something special was about to occur.
What he might not have known however, was that he was about to uncork a season-best throw that would travel 159 feet, 9 inches and place him first overall in the 12-team meet, which included several large New Mexico schools.
In addition to his championship performance in the discus, Showalter came up big in the shot put, where he finished first overall (50 feet, 10 inches). Also placing well in both throwing events was freshman Connor Showalter, who finished fourth in the shot put (46 feet, 4 inches) and the discus (139 feet, 7 inches).
While the performance of the Mancos boys team’s throwers stole the show, the performances of senior Caden Galloway and junior Anthony Medina could not be overlooked as Galloway finished first in the high jump (6 feet), and Medina placed second in the long jump (21 feet, 3 ¼ inches), third in the triple jump (41 feet) and sixth in the 100-meter dash (11.70).
Other top 10 finishers for the Mancos boys team included senior Vassar Stephens, who placed fifth in the high jump (5 feet, 8 inches) and ninth in the long jump (18 feet, 6¾ inches), freshman Chase Moore, who placed sixth in the high jump (5 feet, 8 inches) and freshman Edgar Hernandez, who crossed the line eighth in the 1600-meter run (4:51.53) and ninth in the 800-meter run (2:14.42).
The Bluejays’ 4-x-200-meter relay team composed of Breccen Morelli, Connor Showalter, Moore and Stephens finished second overall (3:39.58), and the Mancos boys team finished sixth overall in the 12-team meet.
On the girls side, Mancos was again led by sophomore Grace Manning, who earned third-place finishes in the 400-meter dash (1:03.31) and the 800-meter run (2:29.18) while looking primed to produce a standout performance at the state track meet later this month.
Freshman Desi Dainty-Guilfoyle finished 19th in the 100-meter dash (14.22), and Zoey Steele placed 23rd in the triple jump (22 feet, 4¼ inches) and 25th in the 100-meter hurdles (23.18).
Hannah Sparks rounded out the girls team’s top finishers with a 28th-place finish in the pole vault (12 feet, 7 inches), and the Lady Jays’ 4-x-100-meter relay made up of Ericka Peacock, Andrea Sena, Sparks and Dainty-Guilfoyle finished sixth overall.
The Mancos girls team finished 10th overall in the 12-team meet, which was won by Piedra Vista High School.
Next up for both Mancos teams will be the Grand Junction Tiger Invitational, which will take place in Grand Junction on May 10.
