Ensley Jorgenson ran a State Qualifying time of 5:30.18 to place 3rd in the 1600 m. Photo By Blake Wood

Iris Purtzer easily clears 4′ 8″ in the high jump. Photo By Blake Wood

By BLAKE WOOD
Assistant Coach
LAHS Track & Field

Despite the cold, blustery weather at Rio Rancho HS last Saturday, the Hilltopper Girls and Boys Track & Field teams qualified additional athletes for the State Championship in May. The Girls team won the meet over 4A rival Albuquerque Academy, 140-121, and the Boys took second to Academy, 93.5 to 83. There were 13 teams competing.

The Girls qualified Ensley Jorgenson in the 1600 m, Allie Holland in the long jump, Dani Trellue in the pole vault, and the 4×400 m relay team of Jenna Montoya, Chloe Coffey, Margaret Steinkamp, and Colette Bibeault. Repeating their State Qualifying performances from the previous week were Colette Bibeault in the 100 m hurdles and pole vault, Jenna Montoya in the long jump, and Sarah Martis in the discus.

Individual event winners included Colette Bibeault in the 100 m hurdles (16.06 sec) and pole vault (11′), Sara Martis in the discus (107′ 5″), and the 4×400 m relay team (4:18.21).

Throwing in his first meet of the season, Matt Brousseau qualified in the shot put, winning the event with a mark of 50′ 1″. In second place was Jaydon Dudley, repeating his State Qualification with a throw of 45′ 6″. Aiden Manzanares repeated his State Qualifying performance in the pole vault with a leap of 12′. The 4×100 m relay team of Jordan Herrera, Jens Wald-Hopkins, Carlo Baca, and Akim Leija won their event in a time of 44.69 seconds.

A number of Hilltopper athletes will be competing at the Chandler Invitational Saturday, March 22, in Arizona.

Sarah Martis won the discus with a State Qualifying throw of 107′ 5″. Photo By Blake Wood

Aiden Manzanares defies gravity in achieving a State Qualifying jump of 12′ in the pole vault. Photo By Blake Wood

Mikey Bane, shown here in the 4×800 m relay, achieved a major milestone in running his first sub-5 minute 1600 m mark, winning his heat in a time of 4:52.85. Photo By Blake Wood

Akim Leija anchors the 4×400 m relay to the cheers of his teammates. Photo By Blake Wood