Cain, Paden key PHS

ALBUQUERQUE - Traise Cain and Kylyie Paden didn't have quite the days they'd hoped for in Friday's Class 4A state track meet at the University of New Mexico's track facility, but they still took in a pretty good haul.

Cain accounted for 20 points for Portales High's boys, winning two events, while Paden scored 12 of the Lady Rams' 13 points with a win in pole vault and a second-place finish in high jump.

PHS posted 30 points and shared seventh place with Kirtland Central in boys team standings. Meantime, the girls were ninth with 13 points.

Cain, a senior, went 13 feet, 6 inches in pole vault to edge Kyle Hatler of Los Alamos, who also cleared 13-6 but had more misses. Cain won the 110 hurdles comfortably, running 14.87 seconds to a 15.47 time for runnerup Kidus Tekle of Hope Christian.

He had high hopes in high jump and the 300 hurdles, but finished fourth in both, going 5-10 in the former and running 41.51 in the latter. Winners in those events were Joseph Godshall of St. Pius (6-2) and Fenyz Morningdove of Bernalillo (40.07).

"He did well in the 110s and pole vault," PHS coach Quintin Wilson said, "but we were sort of surprised he didn't do better in high jump and the 300s."

Paden, a junior, won by more than a foot in girls pole vault, clearing 10-7 to 9-6 for two other vaulters. She went 5-2 in high jump, but lost out in based on misses to Los Alamos senior Bailey Yost.

Wilson said Paden was going for 11 feet in pole vault and nearly got it.

"She gave it three great attempts," he said. "She was really disappointed (to finish second) in high jump. It just wasn't in the cards."

Other points for the Rams were by sophomore Michael Riess in the 800, fourth in 2:10.39; the 800 relay team of junior Mason Embry and seniors Kevin Ivarbol, Dason Davis and Carlos Delgado, third in 1:32.91, and the 1,600 relay team of Ivarbol, senior Donovan Garcia, junior L.J. Jackson and Delgado, sixth in 3:39.60.

"We went in with the seventh-seeded time," Wilson said, referring to the 800 relay. "Those boys ran their hearts out.

"Michael fought hard in the 800. Most of the guys that beat him train at higher altitude."

The other point for the Lady Rams came from junior Angela Maestas, who placed sixth in javelin with a personal-best throw of 106-1.

"Her previous best throw was 93-8 or 93-9," Wilson said. "This was the first time out for her in (high school) track. She did a good job, and coach (Jeremy) Berry did a good job with her."

Los Alamos dominated the meet, scoring 183 1/2 points on the girls' side to win by more than 100 points over Artesia (76 1/2) and posting 99 points in boys competition, with Albuquerque Academy second at 80 and Lovington a distant third with 38.

The Hilltoppers tallied in 15 of 20 events, winning five, while the Lady Hilltoppers were first in 10 events and earned points in 17 of 20. The only events on the track where Los Alamos failed to score were the boys 110 and 300 hurdles.

"Los Alamos was for real," Wilson said. "I've never seen a team that deep and athletic. They just kicked everybody's butt.

"This was Los Alamos' year. They deserved it."