DENVER AND PUEBLO — The culmination of several months of intensive work and training could payoff big time for several area athletes at the Track and Field Championships set for Friday and Saturday, May 19-20. The Class 4A meet will be held at Jefferson County Stadium in Lakewood, a suburb of Denver. The Class 2A meet will be held at Dutch Clark Stadium in Pueblo.

Most of the athletes either prequalified in selected earlier meets by hitting designated times and/or distances or at Regionals where the top three automatically qualified.

Montezuma-Cortez High School boys and girls competed in the Class 4A meet while Dolores, Dolores County, and Mancos participated in the Class 2A meet all day at Stocker Stadium in Grand Junction. The top three placers automatically qualified for State.

Dove Creek’s qualifier is the girls 4X800 relay team which finished second. They are Tia Wood, Krystal Neeley, Amanda Johnson, and Charlene Atkins.

Dolores’ qualifiers include Garrett Nielson in 100 and 200, Brian Rantz in 1600 and 3200, Cody Beaver in 110 and 300 hurdles, boys 4X200 (Levi Frye, Dustin Gilstrap, Beaver, and Nielson), boys 4X400 (Dustin Gilstrap, Tyler Gilstrap, Mike Dunford, and Chris Buckholtz), Joni Everett in 400 and 800, Tracy Everett in 1600 and 3200, Tegan Brown in 1600 and 3200, 800 medley (Daisy Ragland, Tegan Brown, Jennifer Trevillian, and Joni Everett), girls 4X200 (Sheena Burns, Brown, Ashley Ramirez, and Trevillian), girls 4X800 (Tracy Everett, Crystal Gray, Ann Fecteau, and Ramirez), and Ragland in long jump.

"I think Tracy should do well in her events," Dolores coach Mitzi Wallace said. "Joni also should do well. Daisy has a good chance to get on the podium for the long jump. Cody is one of the best hurdlers around, he’s got a shot at winning a medal. Garrett in the 200 and Brian in the 1600 also could do well. I certainly think our boys 4X200 will place."

Qualifying for Mancos are Amanda Kennedy in 100 and 200, Rene Davis in 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles, Jori Yeomans 1600, girls 4X200 relay (Kayla Daugherty, Melissa Keller, Kristin Paxton, Lacy Morris), girls 4X400 (Morris, Yeomans, Morgan, Kennedy), Kerri Morgan in triple jump, Erica Russell in shot put and discus, Phillip Wilson 100, Jesse Rousset 400, Sven McNeil 800, Ray Thomas 300 hurdles, Jordan Davis 1600 and 3200, Travis Clark in Discus, Ray Thomas in triple jump, Gary Baker in triple jump, boys 4X100 (Thomas, Jeremiah Muniz, Rousset, Wilson), and boys 4X400 (Rousset, Baker, McNeil, Wilson).

The Mancos boys, who won the team Regional title in Class 2A, have a good shot at winning the team title at State. The Blue Jays won the crown two years ago. The girls also have a chance to finish right near the top.

"Right now I’m thrilled at all our qualifiers," MHS head coach Tim Dunham commented. "They all did a tremendous job (at Regionals). Some school records were broken and many of them made personal bests. With our large number of kids going to State, I’m really looking forward to it."

Qualifying for Cortez girls 4X200 (Marie DeBolt, Gina West, Tessa Haukeness, and Stefanie Allison), and Allison in high jump.

"If the relay team runs their best time ever, they could medal. They will really need to run well, though, because there are some awfully good teams in that event. Stefanie has a good shot at placing in the high jump," MCHS girls head coach Doug Anderson reported.

Qualifying for the Cortez boys are Adam Williams in 100, 200 and 400, Jake Collett in triple jump, Josh Lee in long jump, boys 4X200 (Williams, Lee, Andrew Pearson, Collett), and boys 4X400 (Josh Mortensen, Charles Ream, Alex Bustillo, Collett).

"You never know what will happen," MCHS head boys coach Bob Archibeque commented. "I think we can get some medalists. I certainly hope we do better than we did last year (no points). Those injuries really hurt us last year."