Cats hoping vets will key solid season

CLOVIS — Clovis High's boys have never won a team state title in track, although they came close in 2001 (third place) and 2003 (second).

Coach Darren Kelley, entering his 18th season with the Wildcats, isn't predicting a state title this season. Still, he thinks CHS is in good position to do well when it comes to the postseason.

"All we really lost (to graduation) was Tucker (Dobbs) and Roland (Chavez)," Kelley said Monday. "We pretty much have everyone else back."

Dobbs was slowed by injury much of last season, although Chavez had a solid year in the throws, finishing second in discus and third in shot put.

The Cats, who were second in Friday's season-opening Reagor Dykes Relays at Plainview, against an all-west Texas field.

Kelley said the Cats should be solid in the springs with senior Micah Gray leading several candidates, including senior Sebastian Roanhaus, juniors Seth Lopez and Austin Fuentes and sophomore Montez Wright.

"Micah's doing a great job of being a leader," Kelley said. "Those guys do a good job; you can put them in different events, and they can run all the relays."

Senior Leroy Wilson posted the Cats' only win at Plainview, taking the 300 hurdles. Senior Lane Kelley and Juan Alvarez add depth in both hurdles races.

Meantime, in pole vault, the Cats have the defending Class 6A state champion in junior Burgin Foster, who went 14 feet in Albuquerque and earlier set the school mark at 14-6.

Junior Jonathan Williams is solid in triple jump, while distance events are led by junior Jon Fuentes and freshman T.J. Gregg.

The Cats aren't likely to set their five new district rivals much, if at all, until the District 2-6A meet in early May at Albuquerque, but Kelley said Manzano appears to be the favorite.

"It'll be a different district with six teams instead of three, and a two-day meet instead of one," he said.

The Lady Wildcats, who finished in a tie for ninth at state last year, return a 6A champion in senior Monay Phillips, who took discus competition.

Third-year coach Dawn Coleman said her squad is young, with just six seniors out and about half the roster made up of freshmen. Still, she's optimistic, although many of her athletes are in the unproven stage.

"I think this is the most competitive team I've had," she said. "Across the board, it looks like we'll have a bunch of freshmen in the throws, sprints and distance events."

Senior Brittany Reed should add points in shot put and discus, while senior Jaci Sievers should do well in the 800 and the 300 hurdles. Coleman is looking for good things from sophomore Gjia Ayson in triple jump and freshman Sidney Stratton in the 400 and the 1,600 relay, both of whom gained state experience last spring.

The Lady Cats finished fourth in Friday's six-team meet at Plainview.

"When I got on the bus after the track meet, I felt like it was a good day for us," Coleman said.

CHS SCHEDULE

March

10 — Reagor Dykes Relays at Plainview; 17 — at Lovington Invtational; 24-25 — at Amarillo Relays; 31 — at Hereford Invitational.

April

1 — at Hereford Invitational; 7 — at Portales Invitational; 13 — Wildcat Relays at Clovis; 21 — at Alamogordo qualifier; 25 — Pat Henry qaualifier at Hobbs; 28 — Ross Black relays at Lovington

May

5-7 — District 2-6A meet at Santa Fe; 12-13 — Class 6A state meet at Albuquerque.

Boys coach: Darren Kelley. Girls coach: Dawn Coleman.