Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Clovis senior Jaci Sievers takes the baton from MiKyla Harkley in the 1,600 medley relay Saturday at the Class 6A state track meet in Albuquerque.
Senior Brittany Reed finished first in the discus on Friday for Clovis, then followed up on Saturday with a state title in shot put.
ALBUQUERQUE — Darren Kelley was hoping for a team trophy. His Clovis High boys track team was actually in contention for the lead down the stretch.
The Wildcats, though, ended up fifth on Saturday in Class 6A state competition at the University of New Mexico.
Favored Rio Rancho Cleveland had to work hard to do it, but the Storm won the 1,600 relay finale and edged Volcano Vista 59-57 for team honors. Eldorado (50) outlasted Rio Rancho (46), CHS (44) and Hobbs (42) for the final trophy spot.
Kelley said the Cats actually helped Cleveland out a bit on the last relay with their third-place finish in the 1,600 - Volcano Vista settled for fifth place, and a six-point lead turned into a two-point deficit for the Hawks.
Overall, the Cats had a solid weekend, said Kelley, who is scheduled to move into the CHS athletic director's chair this summer. They posted season bests in all four relays, earning two thirds, a fourth and a fifth.
"We did as good as we could do," he said. "We dropped three seconds off our 4x4 time from (Friday's prelims).
"That was the hardest thing. These kids worked their tails off all year, but sometimes the other team is just better."
Junior Jonathan Williams posted season-bests for the Cats while finishing second in high jump (6 feet, 6 inches) and fifth in long jump (21-7 1/2) on Friday, and third in triple jump (45-2 1/2) on Saturday. "Jonathan had a great weekend," Kelley said.
Senior Leroy Wilson was second in the 300 hurdles in 38.77 seconds, behind defending 6A champion Veto Virgin of Cleveland (38.16).
On the girls' side, senior Brittany Reed earned her second win of the weekend as CHS finished seventh with 25 points. Cleveland destroyed the field with 112 points, with La Cueva a distant second at 49.
Reed, who won discus competition on Friday, added a shot put title to her resume on Saturday, throwing 39 feet, 1 inch. The Lady Cats scored 10 of their 15 points on Saturday in that event, with sophomore Kianna Chappell claiming fourth at 35-7 3/4.
