Lady Rams sending large contingent to state

Portales girls track coach Sandie Schillings is hoping her squad can do as well or better than it did in last year's Class 3A state meet, when the Lady Rams scored 33 1/2 points and finished fifth.

While they lost a bunch of points when Jenna Sievers transferred to Clovis, the Lady Rams have 19 girls competing this weekend in 14 events at the University of New Mexico's track facility in Albuquerque, including five events with more than one entry.

Junior Alex Ledbetter is tied for the top girls high jump in 3A this spring at 5-2, while sophomore Kristen Wagner is ranked third in triple jump.

Schillings said Ledbetter, who is also competing in pole vault and placed in both last year at state, has reached 5-2 consistently this spring in high jump.

"Hopefully, we've got a little advantage there," Schillings said. "She's been pretty consistent all year. I'm also looking for her to place in pole vault.

"Kristen hasn't jumped her best this year, but I think she has it in her."

On the track, Schillings thinks the Lady Rams have a chance to do well in the medley and 1,600 relays, where they come in ranked third and fourth, respectively, in 3A.

The PHS boys have seven athletes in nine events.

Senior Collin McAfee in the hurdles and Wayne Legler in the 100 and 200 could score well for the Rams. McAfee placed fifth and sixth, respectively, in last year's meet.

PHS comes in ranked fifth in the 800 relay, while senior Ben Blue is third in high jump, the Rams' only field event.

"The highest jump (among qualifiers) is 6-2, and he's jumped that in practice," Rams coach Glenn Johnson said.

"We're going to have to come out and have a good day," Johnson said of today's track prelims. "We're going to have to put ourselves in position to make the finals, and we also want to draw a good lane."