Los Alamos High School Track & Field Shines In El Paso

Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on March 17, 2024
- 11:40 am

Grafton Urbatsch, right, and Alex Pasulka went 1-3 in the 800 m in State Qualifying times of 1:59.7 and 2:00.3, respectively. Photo by Blake Wood

Jenna Montoya won the long jump with a leap of 16′ 8″. Photo by Blake Wood

By BLAKE WOOD
Assistant Coach
LAHS Track & Field

The Los Alamos High School Track & Field teams traveled to El Paso, and impressed some big Texas schools last Friday and Saturday at the Fred Loya Invitational. The Hilltopper Girls won the meet over previously undefeated host Eastwood High School, and the Boys finished second to Eastwood.

The Girls added 10 new qualifiers (to the 13 from last week in Roswell) for the NM State Championship in May, and achieved 24 new personal bests. New qualifiers included Meredith Brown in the 100 m, Jaiya Daniels and Syana Sanchez in the 200 m, Ensley Jorgenson in the 800 m, Grace Montoya in the 1600 m and 3200 m, Dani Trellue in the triple jump, Allie Holland in the long jump, Siena Rolf in the pole vault, and the 4×400 m relay (Colette Bibeault, Jenna Montoya, Dayja Fellers, and Raina Passalaqua).

Event winners included Jaiya Daniels in the 100 and 200 m, Angelina Passalaqua in the 100 m hurdles, Colette Bibeault in the 300 m hurdles and pole vault, Jenna Montoya in the long jump, and the 4×200 m relay team of Meredith Brown, Jaiya Daniels, Syana Sanchez, and Angelina Passalaqua.

A highlight of the meet was Colette Bibeault equaling the LAHS School Record in the pole vault, with a height of 11′ 6″.

This meet was unique in that it included separate “open” and “9th grade” competitions, which allowed more athletes to compete and distinguish themselves. Event winners in these divisions included Annie White in the 100 m, Gracie Haagenstad in the 200 m, Elizabeth Buck in the 1600 m, Amelia Hill in the 3200 m, Margaret Steinkamp in the 100 and 200 m (9th grade), the 4×100 m relay team of Annie White, Jenessa Sanchez, Seanna Shedd, and Hannah Aslam, and the 4×200 m relay team of Annie White, Gracie Haagenstad, Allie Holland, and Seanna Shedd.

The Boys had new individual State Qualifiers in Grafton Urbatsch and Alex Pasulka in the 800 m. In addition, a new LAHS School Record was set by the 4×200 m relay team of Julian Singell, Alex Pasulka, Daniel Kim, and Melaki Gutierrez, a #2 all-time mark (missing the LAHS School Record by a mere 0.01 seconds!) in the 4×100 m relay was set by Julian Singell, Rocco Quintana, Lyas Eidenbenz, and Melaki Gutierrez, and a #4 all-time mark in the 4×400 m relay was set by Haiden Jorgenson, Lyas Eidenbenz, Grafton Urbatsch, and Alex Pasulka.

Event winners included Matt Brousseau in the discus, Grafton Urbatsch in the 800 m, Melaki Gutierrez in the 200 m, and the 4×100 m and 4×200 m relay teams. In addition, Jayden Ramirez won the open division pole vault.

Coverage of the Hilltopper Track & Field varsity athletes competing Saturday, March 16 at Rio Rancho High School is coming next.

Julian Singell completes the handoff to Alex Pasulka in the 4×200 m relay. With teammates Daniel Kim and Melaki Gutierrez, they smashed the LAHS School Record in this event with a mark of 1:27.7, winning the event in the process. Photo by Blake Wood

Grace Montoya and Rebecca Beaux match strides in the 3200 m. Grace placed 2nd in the event with a State Qualifying time of 11:47.8, followed by Rebecca in 3rd in a time of 12:03.1. Photo by Blake Wood