Track and field teams from Durango, Bayfield and Ignacio all competed at the Dennis Teeters Tiger Invite on Friday and Saturday in Grand Junction. The meet was the final chance for the athletes to lay down a state-qualifying mark or solidify their spot in the upcoming state championships.
Several athletes capitalized on the opportunity.
“We were trying to get kids qualified for state; that was the main goal,” said DHS head coach Johnny Bertrand.
The DHS boys’ 4x400-meter relay was right on the bubble of a top-18 time, but hadn’t put its top relay team together yet. In Grand Junction, Jaxon Fancher, Branden Marquez, Allan Hardee and Brodie Dorko ran the fifth-fastest time in Class 4A so far this year, a 3:27.94.
“We hadn’t put all four together yet, but knew they could be under 3:30,” Bertrand said. “They’ll go faster at state.”
Sofia Voss also ran faster in the 1,600 to guarantee herself a spot at state. Voss ran a 5:11.07, which ranks 12th in 4A. Voss also qualified for state in the 800 this season and will be the No. 9 seed with her top time of 2:18.93.
Sydney Wells also needed a personal record in the pole vault to qualify for state, and she got it. Wells cleared 9-3 and will be the No. 15 seed at state. Seneca Wilson, however, missed the cut by just two inches with a top height of 9-0 this season.
Fancher also ran his best 400 of the year at the Dennis Teeters to move into the No. 4 seed with a 49.92.
“It’s been a long time since we had a 400 runner go under 50 seconds in an open,” Bertrand said.
First-year track athlete Jeanne Campbell was unable to attend the meet due to sickness, but her previous best high jump of 5-0 held up and qualified her for state; she’s tied for the No. 11 seed.
The Demons also qualified for state in the boys 4x800 with a top time of 8:22.18. Dorko, Slader Schweitz, Miles Snow and Luke Swenk will compete on the relay for DHS. Anthony Bonnano will be the relay’s alternate while Maddox Bryant will be the team’s alternate for the 4x400.
Bayfield also recorded many of its top times of the year at the Tiger Invite; the Wolverines have qualified for the 3A state championships in two relays – the boys 4x100 and 4x200 – and five individual events.
Ayden Casillas, Mark Torres, Bradley Foutz and Sean Zimmerman clocked the team’s fastest 4x100 of the year at the Dennis Teeters, a 44.48, which ranks 12th.
The same four Wolverines, in a different order, also clocked the team’s fastest 4x200 of the year over the weekend, a 1:32.73, to snag the No. 17 seed.
Nykole Meshew qualified in both the high jump (5-2) and the long jump (16-9.50) where she ranks third and seventh.
Alaysia Kremer also qualified in two events for the Wolverines. Her top shot put throw of 37-01.75 ranks second and is only 1-2.25 behind classification’s the top throw. Kremer also qualified in the discus with a top distance of 98-6 to earn the No. 17 seed.
Deegan Barnes will represent the BHS boys in the shot put, qualifying with a top throw of 42-02.75.
Maci Barnes, meanwhile, will represent Ignacio in three events at the Class 2A state championships. Barnes enters the competition with the eighth fastest 800 (2:28.96), the ninth-best long jump (15-10.00) and 13th farthest triple jump (31-10.50).
A lot of other athletes just missed the cut.
The Demons tried to qualify in boys 4x200 at the meet, but a mixed-up handoff cost the team valuable time. Klara Absolonova entered the meet in the No. 18 spot in the 100 hurdles, but a fall kept her from improving her 17.38, and she slipped to No. 25 in Class 4A. Bryant cleared 6-0 in the high jump, but needed a 6-1 to qualify.
The state championships will take place Thursday through Saturday at Jefferson County Stadium in Lakewood.
“We always try to set it up so we’re running our best times at the end of the year; we always want to say we did our best at state,” Bertrand said. “I’m proud of everyone for making there.”
