Select locals go to meet

ALBUQUERQUE — Monday’s Marilyn Sepulveda Meet of Champions was kind of like the track and field version of a black-tie, expensive-plate affair. Invitations go only to select athletes.

Clovis’ boys track and field team had nine athletes invited to the event, held at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Montez Wright, Daniel Mendoza, Brandon Mason, Kris Byrd and Pacer Hill were the only five Wildcats to actually attend. Also invited from Clovis but not in attendance were Jon Fuentes, Jerrick Maldonado and Darion Morgan-Haskins.

Some Lady Wildcats were also invited. Long- and triple-jumper Mikyla Harkley, pole vaulters Gracie Rollins and Camryn Baros, and hurdler Kameron Kelley all represented the purple and white.

Portales senior Aiden Cabeldue and juniors Philip Blidi and Trevor Rawdon also attended, as did Texico sophomore Gabe Dickerman.

Here’s how Clovis boys coach Mark Sena described the meet.

“This unique event is intended for only the top performances in the state regardless of class,” Sena stated via email. “Laned races are limited to the top eight qualifiers, distance races to the top 12, and field events from 8-12 participants. (They keep it around 8, but because of ties there may be more in these events.)”

Monday’s meet wasn’t scored, point-wise, but there were some stellar numbers turned in, especially by the sophomore Harkley and the senior Wright. Harkley’s distance of 17 feet, 11 inches was best in the girls long jump, and she had the second-best triple jump distance (38 feet, 4.25 inches), behind only Faith Powell (38-7) of Taos.

Wright had the fastest 100-meter dash time of 11.11, managing to nudge out Deming’s Caezer Chavez (11.12). Wright was also third in the 400 (51.25) behind only Taos’ Jonah Vigil (48.09) and Volcano Vista’s Thomas Williams (49.64).

The sophomore Hill gave Clovis’ boys a second-place finish in the pole vault, with his 13-foot, 6-inch number that was behind only Hope Christian’s Vince Quezada (14-0). Blidi turned in a second for Portales in the boys discus, with his 147-foot, 7 inch fling that finished behind only Silver’s Chris Cruz (152-0).

The junior Mason was fourth in the boys triple jump with a 43-7.25.

Fifth-place local finishes were posted by Blidi in the boys shotput (46-10) and the Clovis junior Byrd in the boys high jump (6-0).

Dickerman was sixth in the boys pole vault (12-0).

Seventh-place area finishes were tallied by the Clovis sophomore Rollins in the girls pole vault (9-6) and the Wildcat senior Mendoza in the boys discus (126-0).

And local eighth-place finishers were: the Clovis sophomore Baros, who tied Aztec’s Carley Smith in the girls pole vault (9-0), the Lady Wildcat sophomore Kelley in the girls 100-meter hurdles (16.82) and Rawdon in the boys javelin (130-0).

Regular-season competition continues this weekend.