Durango track teams wins SWL

The Durango High School boys and girls track and field teams both won team titles at the Southwestern League Championships, held Friday and Saturday at DHS.

“That’s always the goal, so it’s always good to get it done,” said DHS senior Will Knight. “I want more, but I’m happy with how the team did.”

Knight, who said he wants to reach the podium at the state championships, won a pair of individual SWL titles. He won the discus with a throw of 152 feet, 1 inch, just over 2 feet farther than teammate Justin Bates (149-11) in second.

Knight also won the shot put with a heave of 52 feet, 8 inches, missing his personal record by a half-inch. He said he switched his technique to a glide this week and it was working well. Bates (43-9.5) finished fourth.

“I want to thank Robin Oliger,” Knight said. “She’s the only reason I throw. She’s a good coach and makes it fun.”

The Demons captured lots of other first-place finishes in individual and relays as well.

Sydney Flores won both the shot put (38-01.75) and the discus (117-01) for the DHS girls.

Damian Frausto won the 800-meters (1:57.51) and the 1,600 (4:29.58). Land Lambert sprinted to the finish with Frausto in the 1,600, and the two went neck-and-neck at the finish, but Lambert crossed just 0.02 seconds behind Frausto. Lambert also placed second in the 800 in 1:57.96.

Lambert, however, captured the 3,200 title Friday in an SWL meet record 9:28.82. Frausto took second in 9:31.46.

In the pole vault, Halle Moore cleared 9-06, and Jacob Fenberg cleared 12-00 to place first. Jed Hughes finished second at 11-00.

Angela McManus won the girls 800 in 2:17.85. Abby Fehr was fourth in 2:21.95.

Willow Lott won the 1,600 in 5:17.41. McManus crossed third in 5:32.58.

Lott also led DHS in the 3,200 with a second-place finish in 11:47.32. Nina Quayle was fourth (12:18.91) and Dewa Ilg was fifth (12:30.83).

Landon Roberts won the 400 in 50.34 seconds. He also placed second in the long jump (20-3.5).

Jaxon Fancher placed third in the 100 (11.68), just 0.01 second ahead of Roberts in fourth. Fancher also placed third in the 200 (23.23).

Maddox Bryant cleared 5-09 in the high jump to place fourth.

The DHS girls also won the 4x200 (1:53.30), 4x400 (4:20.31) and 4x800 (9:54.10) relays. The boys won the 4x200 (1:31.94).

Grand Junction Central’s Tristian Spence and Justin Blanton were named the SWL athletes of the year.

Kenna Patcheck placed second in the 200 (27.34). Mason Turner finished second in the 400 (1:05.30).

Spence won the girls 3,200 in 11:18.14 while Blanton won the 200 in an SWL meet record 22.10 and the 100 in 10.97.

The Demons will next compete in a last-chance qualifier Saturday, the Tiger Invite in Grand Junction.