Strong Small School Showings
The Montrose girls showed a strong start, but not to be overlooked are the lady Miners of Telluride. With 89.5 points the 2A team showed they could more than hold their own against the bigger schools.
It came as no surprise that Soleil Gaylord brought home two meet titles (800 & 1600), but what should be of concern to her 2A rivals is that her solo 800 time of 2:24.60 is just shy of her PR from state last year and she anchored the 4x400 relay to a second-place finish. It appears that snowshoe racing over the winter season helped her build speed strength.
Natalia Kelley and Brianna Brown combined for a 3-4 finish in the 100. These two ladies then paired up with their teammates to win the 4x100. Kelley also tallied a bronze placement in the 400.
Another small school win came from 1A's LaRissa Randolph of Dove Creek in the 100H with a new best of 18.04 (0.0). After the lunch break Randolph returned with another PR in the longer hurdle version 52.00 for second place to Hotchkiss' Kaiya Firor (50.30). Firor helped pace her teammates to the SMR win in 1:57.45.
If anyone is worried about Paonia, don't get too excited. Many of their girls are taking a bit of a rest after winning the 2A Girls basketball title in an undefeated season.
On the boy's side Cedaredge came out strong. Isaac Swoffer and Ty Grant took home the top spots in the 100 - separated by a hair - 11.51 & 11.53 (0.0). Grant returned for a second in the 200. The Bruins gathered top honors in the 4x200. Brendon Klaseen (400), Danny Mendoza (110H) and Drew Markley (300H) scored runner-up spots. In the field, Swoffer and Markley also combined for a 1-2 punch in the Long Jump.