Portales girls second at district, boys third

As a Portales High freshman in 2009, Sutton injured her back playing volleyball, something she said had been coming on for a while. "Doing sports all my life, it probably just finally gave out," she said, noting she had been playing in some pain.

Sutton had to have surgery for two protruding discs, and she wasn't released for sports again until January of this year.

CMI staff photo: Tony Bullocks

Portales sophomore Serina Johnson cleared 4 feet, 10 inches a personal best Friday at the District 4-3A track meet at Leon Williams Stadium.

Now, the senior will close out her career in the Class 3A state track meet next week in Albuquerque — competing in the 100 hurdles and discus, no less.

Sutton qualified by winning discus competition with a throw of 89 feet and placing second in the hurdles in 17.14 seconds as the Lady Rams finished second with 54 points in the three-team meet, trailing Ruidoso (114) and ahead of Lovington (46).

Lovington cruised to the boys team title with 123 1/2 points to 59 for Ruidoso and 30 for PHS.

"I was really nervous," Sutton said. "The hurdles was the main event I wanted to qualify, but discus (which was earlier in the day) put me in a better mood for the hurdles."

Sutton accounted for two of seven new qualifiers for state by the Lady Rams in Friday's meet.

"It's been really fun getting to come back out for my senior year," Sutton said. "(Doctors had) told me I probably wouldn't be able to play sports again."

Portales' other wins were by Hannah Cabledue in pole vault (8 feet) and Brittany Gonzales, who led a 1-2-3-4 sweep for PHS in shot put at 29-10.

Ruidoso won 15 events on the girls side — including all 12 on the track — to run away with team honors.

"We struggled," PHS girls coach Sandie Shillings said. "We had two disqualifications in the relays. We didn't score the points we have in some of the other meets, but getting those seven events qualified was a good thing.

"For a year with a lot of youth and inexperience, that's not bad."

Lovington's boys won 13 events in storming to team honors. The Rams had eight second-place finishes, including two by Matthew Shelly in the 100 hurdles (15.47) and 300 hurdles (43.14).