MHS, OHS teams take the track at state meet

It wasn’t a perfect day for the Olathe High track and field team, but it was about as good as it could’ve hoped for.

Olathe saw its athletes reach the finals in two of its four total events in the first day of the Class 3A state meet in Pueblo, as Wes Byers reached in the 200-meter dash and Kayla Matthews took second overall in the high jump.

“They did a great job today,” OHS coach Jerry Hollingshead said. “Obviously we would’ve liked to see all our kids get to the finals, but Wes and Kayla both did fantastic jobs.”

Byers moved on to today’s final round in the 200 after just missing the cut in the 100, as he took ninth and needed to place in the top-8 to move on.

Matthews made a huge jump from 12th overall to first place after clearing 5-2 in the high jump. The overall winner bettered her mark by three inches, but her performance was still good enough to send her to the podium for the first time.

“That was a fantastic job by Kayla,” Hollingshead said. “It was great performance by her, and it was exciting to see her up there on the medal podium.”

Olathe also had its girls’ medley relay team in action, but the foursome of Ariana Perez, Briana Vigil, Katrina Harris and Morgan Stansberry came just a half-second shy of making the top-8.

Along with the 200, Byers will be competing in today’s second day in the long jump, while the boys’ and girls’ 4x800 relay team and long jumper Tiffany Matthews will also be in action.

The Montrose High track and field team had five of its seven athletes compete on the first day of the Class 4A state meet in Denver, but none were able to advance to the finals in the respective events.

The boys 4x800-meter relay team of Chirs Hay, Kris Ferguson and Michael Wallendorff and senior Kyle Masterson failed to reach the finals despite finishing 14th with a time comparable to the one they posted at last weekend’s regional meet.

The only other Montrose athlete in action was shot putter Natalia Figgs, who finished 20th overall and failed to advance to the finals.

“It wasn’t her best, and it was definitely and eye-opener being at the state tournament and going up against a lot bigger girls,” Nething said. “But she competed. That’s what we ask for, and it was a good experience for her being a junior. She’s going to be a good little thrower next year.”

Montrose will have three athletes competing in today’s second day action, as Hay returns to run the boys’ 3,200 and Josh White will throw in the shot put. Wendy Huber will also compete in the discus.

“Hopefully tomorrow we can make a dent and get some kids into the finals,” Nething said.

Contact Robin Washut via e-mail at robinw@montrosepress.com