PHS tracksters compete in triangular at Hobbs

HOBBS – Portales High’s track teams posted 14 first-place finishes and eight state qualifying marks in a triangular meet hosted by Hobbs on Friday.

No team scores were kept in the competition, which also included Lovington.

For the boys, senior Michael Riess posted wins in the 800 (2 minutes, 0.08 seconds) and 1,600 (4:36.14), qualifying for Class 4A state competition in both. Meantime, junior Manny Chavez had a solid all-around day, winning javelin competition at 155 feet while placing second in the 110 hurdles (18.17) and fourth in the 300 hurdles (45.52).

“I was very impressed with what Manny Chavez did,” said PHS track coach Quintin Wilson, noting that Chavez had thrown 170-10 in javelin in an earlier meet at Roswell.

Other wins for the Rams were posted by sophomore Tommy Lopez in pole vault (12-8), senior Nick Lavelle in shot put (44-4) and the 1,600 medley relay team (4:21.65). Lopez and Lavelle had state-qualifying marks, as did senior Nehemiah Yorfee, who was second, one-half inch behind Lavelle in shot put.

For the Lady Rams, freshman Skyler Massey won in high jump with a state-qualifying mark of 4-10. She also placed second (1:08.04) to teammate Kaydynce Reeves (101.40) in the 400, and sixth in the 200.

“She’s only had two practices (coming off the basketball season),” Wilson said of Massey. “I was really proud of her.”

Reeves claimed another win in pole vault at 10-3, while other event winners on the girls side were freshman J’Lynn Maestas in triple jump (31-1), senior Olivia Low in discus (108-6) and the 400 (52.00), 1,600 (4:27.17) and 3,200 (14:44.84) relay teams. State-qualifying marks were established by Reeves (400) and Low (discus).

PHS squads return to Hobbs this Friday for the Gene Wells Relays.