Dolores, Dove Creek, Mancos all struggle at San Juan Relays

Dolores, Dove Creek, Mancos all struggle at San Juan Relays

Mar. 22, 2001

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

It was strictly a team event.

The annual San Juan Relays, which has now expanded with more teams than just San Juan Basin League members, drew Class 4A powerhouse Montrose and New Mexico Class 3A power Shiprock to the meet at Panther Stadium this past Friday, March 16.

Several local San Juan Basin League teams did well.

Dolores, Dolores County, and Mancos participated and several relay teams placed but none finished real high in the overall teams standings. On the boys’ side of the ledger, Montrose blew away the field with 116 points. Shiprock finished a distant second with 77. Telluride took third with 48, followed by Mancos with 47, Nucla 24, Norwood 19, Dolores12, Dolores County 10 and Silverton 0. On the girls’ side, it was Shiprock with 108, Montrose 56, Dolores County 62, Dolores 43, Mancos 36, Nucla 17, Telluride 13, Monticello, Utah, 11, Norwood 4, and Silverton 3.

Weather conditions started to deteriorate as the afternoon progressed. It got cold and windy and light snow started to fall for the last race of the day. Times were not all that good. Only total team times, distances and heights were kept.

The Blue Jay boys took second in the 4X100 relay and second in the 800 medley. They also placed second i nthe 4X400. But the Jays did well in the field events. They took third in the long jump and sixth in the shot put. Mancos came in second in the high jump.

Dolores grabbed first in the 110 hurdles and in the high jump. It took sixth in the mile run. The Bears finished sixth in the 4X400.

The Bulldogs came in fifth in the 4X400.

It was a little better for the local girls.

Dove Creek’s 4X100 came in first place. The Bulldogs were second in the100 hurdles. DCHS came in first in the 4X800 and second in the 4X200. They also came in third in the shot put.

Mancos won the triple jump team relay event. The Jays finished first in the 4X400. They took fourth in the 4X800.

"Aside from being really cold and still not being at full strength (some not yet out and some not getting in enough practices), I thought we did okay for a first meet. It was nice to be able to compete against Montrose and Shiprock," MHS head coach Tim Dunham commented after the meet was concluded.

The Montezuma-Cortez High School boys and girls competed at the annual Round Valley Invitational at Springerville, Ariz., last Friday, March 16. It is one of the largest prep indoor track meets held in the Southwest.

The Panther girls scored the most points ever at this particular meet, according to MCHS head girls coach Doug Anderson.

"I thought the girls did really well. We finished in 10th out of 21 teams. It was a good meet and we got to see a lot of different teams," he said.

Caitlan Claxton took eighth in the shot put with a throw of 30 feet, 9 inches. Marie deBolt finished in seventh in the 200-meter dash with a time of 29.6 seconds. Tasha Toles captured sixth in the 100 in 13.43. Julie Christensen came in third in the 800 with a clocking of 2 minutes, 41 seconds.

The 4X100 relay team placed fifth in 55.94 and the 4X400 relay came in fourth in 4:44.

"Julie ran a really good race. She had a good time considering the corners were tight because it was an indoor track. Tasha almost exactly the same times in the prelims as she did in the finals," he added.

Anderson said he will take four girls to Chandler this weekend and send some 14 to Moab, Utah.

The MCHS boys continue to do well in the field events. Jeff Yarbrough captured first place in high jump as he cleared 6-4. Josh Lee grabbed third in the long jump with a leap of 20-3/4. Colin Tansey came in second in the discus with a toss of 133-9 while Derique Duran finished eighth with a throw of 120. Brian Balfour came in fourth in the shot with a heave of 44-11 while Duran placed seventh with a toss of 43-5.

Levi Hill came in eighth in the 110 hurdles in 16.8. Lee came in seventh in the 100 in 11.4. James Durnin continues to be impressive and finished third in the 400.

The 4X100 relay came in fifth in 47.4 and the 4X400 relay placed sixth (time unavailable).

"It was a good meet," MCHS head boys coach Bob Archibeque remarked. "It is always fun to compete indoors. Our high jumper looks good right now and everyone one else is getting better. But we still have a lot more work to do."

Archibeque will take seven or eight boys to Chandler and send the rest to Moab.

The Panthers will head to Arizona for sun and fun at the annual Chandler Invitational, which features some of the best tracksters around, this Saturday, March 24. The Bears, Blue Jays, and Bulldogs will head to the Red Rock Invitational at Moab. also on Saturday. Some Panthers not attending the Chandler meet and not going away for Spring Break will go to the Red Rock meet.