Competing roughly an hour from their home track, the Montezuma-Cortez High School boys’ and girls’ track teams earned several top-five finishes at the Ron Keller Invitational on April 18.

“I thought the meet went really well,” said M-CHS boys’ coach Bob Archibeque. “We had a lot of bright spots.”

Among the top finishers for the M-CHS boys’ team were seniors Coby Baer and Austin Jackson, who won the long jump (20 feet, 10 ½ inches) and triple jump (42 feet, 6 ½ inches) respectively. Jackson also finished 2nd in the long jump (20 feet, 7 ½ inches).

Other members of the boys’ team who enjoyed stellar days included Josh Ramos, who finished 1st in the 400-meter dash (52.04) and 1st in the 800 meter dash (2:00.28), Braden Keetch, who placed 2nd in the triple jump (38 feet, 1 ½ inches) and Skylar Yarbrough, who finished 2nd in the high jump (5 feet, 8 inches).

Stevie Fuentes finished 3rd in the 3200-meter run (11:39.39) and Elisha Vaquera crossed the line 3rd in the 400-meter dash (52.61).

On the girls’ side, M-CHS was led by Trinity McCain, who finished 2nd in the high jump (4 feet, 10 inches).

Other top finishers for the Lady Panthers included Aryelle Wright, who finished 3rd in the 400-meter dash (1:03.23), Ashley Wood, who finished 4th in the 300-meter hurdles (51.96) and Anna Bullock, who finished 5th in the 100-meter dash (14.01).

Rounding out the girls’ team’s top-five finishers was Kaeleen Boggs, who placed 5th in the 300-meter hurdles (52.63) and the triple jump (28 feet, ¾ inch).

Next up for the M-CHS track teams will be the Phil Wertman Invite, which will take place at Ralph Stocker Stadium in Grand Junction, Colo. on April 21.

“There will be a lot of good relays and a lot of good sprinters,” Archibeque said. “(The Phil Wertman Invite) will allow us to compete against guys that are just a little faster than us and it gives us a chance to bring out times down.”