At the start of this season, fans, coaches and athletes were unsure of how good this year’s Montezuma-Cortez High School girls and boys’ track teams would be.
Three quarters of the way through their year, those same questions persist, yet it appears, at the very least, that this year’s team will be decent.
Lending credence to the assertion that this year’s boys team could be quite good was a strong finish at the Montrose Invitational on April 25.
Boys team finishes in top-half
One of nineteen teams competing in the large meet, the Panthers boys team finished seventh overall behind six teams, including overall winner Coal Ridge High School.
Leading the way for the Panthers with two solid individual finishes was Justice Ramos, who finished third overall in the 400-meter dash (51.67) and 14th overall in the 800 (2:12.32).
Also producing top-10 finishes for the Panthers were Keegan Ralstin, who finished fifth in the 300 hurdles (42.01), and Randy Haley, who finished sixth in the 100 (11.40).
Leading the Panthers in the throwing events, Victor Perez finished thirteenth in the shot put (40 feet, 7 inches), Isaac Padilla finished thirteenth in the discus (114 feet, 11 inches) and Dante Dennison finished fourteenth in the shot put (40 feet, 4¼ inches).
Also enjoying a solid day for the Panthers, Elijah Vaquera finished fourteenth overall in the long jump (18 feet, 1½ inches).
Demby leads girls to solid day
Not to be outdone by their male counterparts, the Panthers’ girls team also enjoyed a good day, finishing tenth overall in the twenty-one team meet.
Pacing the girls team as she has all season, Rachel Demby finished first in the 400 (59.72).
Other girls cracking the top-10 for the Panthers included Dani Owens, who finished ninth in the 400 (1:06.08), and Tayla Topaha, who finished fifth in the discus (103 feet, 7 inches).
Other top finishers for the Panthers included Michele Coyote, who finished thirteenth in the 400 (1:07.27), Amy Campbell, who finished thirteenth in the 100 (13.40) Weslie Kirks, who finished fourteenth in the triple jump (29 feet 11 ½ inches) and Julia Damore, who finished fifteenth in the 3200 (14:55.97).
Next up for the Panthers track teams will be Tiger Invite, which will take place May 2-3 in Grand Junction.
