IGNACIO – Between their boys and girls teams, no program at the San Juan Basin League track and field championships accrued more point-scoring efforts than Dolores.
The Bears piled up nearly 280 points combined between their two teams, and at the end of action in Ignacio on Tuesday evening, both teams walked away with runner-up finishes. The girls battled tooth-and-nail with Ridgway for the overall crown, nearly overcoming the Demons’ collection of nine event titles, but the Bears 142 points came up just five shy of a SJBL title.
In the boys race, Ignacio accrued eight event victories on their way to 188 points on their home track, while Dolores ended up with 135 points to comfortably outdistance third-place Mancos (80). The Bluejays also claimed third in the girls competition, tallying 111 points on the day. Dove Creek’s boys landed in fifth place (64) while the Bulldog girls took seventh (36).
Dolores captured seven event titles between the boys and girls teams, and added an additional 16 top three finishes.
The girls posted wins with senior Coralea Wright’s double victory in the 100 and 300 hurdles as well as a victory in the 4 x 400 relay. For the boys, junior Michael Rantz topped the 400 field, freshman Joseph Padilla won the 3,200, and junior Kayson Greene took gold in the shot put, while the Bears 4 x 200 relay cruised to a five second victory.
Other top three performances for DHS included junior Aaron Nielson (third – 100 meters), Rantz (third – 200 meters), Padilla (second – 1,600 meters), sophomore Owen Lowe (third – 3,200 meters), boys 4 x 800 (second) and 4 x 400 relays (third), freshman Emma Nielson (third – 100 meters), sophomore Akaia Edwards (third – 400 meters), senior Elia Lowe (third – 800 meters), freshman Addy Thompson (second – triple jump and third – 300 hurdles), sophomore Eleri Brown (second – discus), freshman Izzy Akin (third – shot put), girls 4 x 100 (third), 4 x 200 (second) and 4 x 800 relays (second).
Mancos enjoyed nine champions in their SJBL action, five from the boys and four girls winners, including junior Jonah Ritter’s double in the 100 and 200, sophomore Michael Resner taking the long jump crown, as well as victories in the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relays. On the girls side, junior Destiny Kramer won the long jump, discus and high jump, while sophomore Trinity Angle took top spot in the triple jump.
The Jays added top three finishes from senior Sarah Knezek (second – high jump), junior Brooke Jabour (second in both the 100 and 200 meters), the girls 4 x 100 relay (second), sophomore James Potts (third – discus), and freshman Levi Priestly (third – long jump).
Dove Creek’s top three finishes came from junior Jonathan Davis (third – 800 meters), junior Daniel Gray (third in both the 110 and 300 hurdles), sophomore Gavin Gill (second – discus), junior Josh Kibel (third – shot put), senior Ralynn Hickman (second – long jump), and junior Grace Myers (third – discus).
With the “championship” portion of the season officially underway, the Bears, Bluejays, and Bulldogs can turn their full attention on state qualification efforts. Dove Creek will head to Pagosa Springs on Saturday for the Terry Alley Invitational, Dolores will head to Canon City for their Blossom Invitational, and Mancos will go to Dutch Clark Stadium in the Steel City for the Pueblo Twilight on Friday night.
