Raina Passalaqua achieved a State Qualifying high jump of 4’10”, placing 5th. She also won the triple jump with a leap of 33′ 1/2″. Photo by Blake Wood

Colette Bibeault achieved State Qualifying marks in four events: the pole vault (11’0″), high jump (5’0″), 100 m hurdles (16.25 s), and 300 m hurdles (48.02 s). She won the pole vault, placed 2nd in the high jump and 300 m hurdles, and placed 3rd in the 100 m hurdles. Photo by Blake Wood

By BLAKE WOOD
Assistant Coach
LAHS Track & Field

The LAHS Track & Field season opened with a bang when the Hilltoppers competed at the Early Bird Invite in Roswell, NM on Friday, March 1.

Both the ’Topper Boys and Girls teams won the meet by large margins over several big 4A and 5A schools, despite not competing in the final two events (the 1600 and 4×400 relay) due to the 10 pm bus departure deadline.

Numerous Hilltopper athletes achieved marks which qualify them to compete in the State Championship in May. Girls qualifying in individual events included and Syana Sanchez in the 100, Angelina Passalaqua in the 100 hurdles, Colette Bibeault in the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, high jump, and pole vault, Dani Trellue in the 100 hurdles and pole vault, Jenna Montoya in the long jump, and Raina Passalaqua in the high jump. The Girls also qualified their 4×100 relay (Meredith Brown, Dayja Fellers and Syana Sanchez) and 4×200 relay (Dani Trellue, Evangelina Gutierrez, Dayja Fellers, and Syana Sanchez).

Additional event winners included Meredith Brown in the 200 m, Grace Montoya in the 3200 m, Raina Passalaqua in the triple jump, and the 1600 medley relay of Annie White, Jenna Montoya, Dayja Fellers, and Rebecca Beaux.

Boys qualifying in individual events included Melaki Gutierrez in the 100 and 200, Alex Pasulka in the 400, Benjamin Sanchez in the 3200, Daniel Kim and Julian Singell in both the 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles, Rocco Quintana in the long jump, and Matt Brousseau in the shot put and discus.  The Boys also qualified their 4×100 relay with Rocco Quintana, Jens Wald-Hopkins, Lyas Eidenbenz, and Haiden Jorgenson.

The Hilltopper Track & Field teams next compete in the Fred Loya Invitational in El Paso on Friday and Saturday of this week.

Angelina Passalaqua and Dani Trellue went 1-2 in the 100 m hurdles in State Qualifying times of 16.02 and 16.16 seconds, respectively. Dani also placed 2nd in the pole vault and 3rd in the long jump. Angelina also placed 5th in the javelin. Photo by Blake Wood

Julien Singell and Daniel Kim went 1-2 in the 110 m hurdles in State Qualifying times of 15.01 and 15.16 seconds, respectively. They reversed that order for another 1-2 finish in the 300 m hurdles, again in State Qualifying times. Photo by Blake Wood  

Melaki Gutierrez won both the 100 m and 200 m events, in State Qualifying times of 10.89 and 22.18 seconds, respectively. Photo by Blake Wood 

Andy Enriquez and Eddie Gartz run in the front pack of the 800 m. Eddie and Andy finished 4th and 5th in times of 2:06.4 and 2:07.1, respectively. Photo by Blake Wood