Wellman-Union hosted the 1A District 5 Boys Track & Field District Championship meet this past Tuesday, resulting in numerous great performances by the Whitharral Panthers and Anton Bulldogs, which pow- ered top three team finishes for both high school programs.
The Panthers scored 213 total points in the meet to win the District Championship, and the Bulldogs scored 85 total points in the meet to place third as a team.
In the 100-meter dash, Brent Robinson (Whitharral) placed second with a time of 11.59; Greg Johnson (Whitharral) placed third with a time of 11.80 and Daniel Rodriguez (Whitharral) placed fifth with a time of 12.26.
In the 200-meter dash, Xavi Avalos (Anton) placed third with a time of 24.44; Nate Sansom (Whitharral) placed fourth with a time of 25.40 and Ayden Dock- ery (Whitharral) placed fifth with a time of 26.00. In the 400-meter dash, Cooper Burns (Whitharral) placed second with a time of 53.35; Hudson Dobrovolny (Whitharral) placed fourth with a time of 58.84 and Tiny Juarez (Anton) placed sixth with a time of 1:08.93.
In the 800-meter run, Isaiah Alafa (Anton) placed second with a time of 2:17.65 and Christian Reina (Whitharral) placed fifth with a time of 2:31.72. Reina would also place fifth in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 6:23.33.
In the 110-meter hurdles, Damian Rodriguez (Whitharral) placed first with a time of 16.32 and Xavi Avalos placed second with a time of 17.02.
In the 300-meter hurdles, Damian Rodriguez placed first with a time of 42.64 and Shooter Campos (Anton) placed second with a time of 49.32.
In the 4x100-meter relay, the Panthers team of Robinson, Sansom, Johnson and Dockery placed first with a time of 45.31. The Bulldogs team of Kaden Starns, Alafa, Campos and Avalos placed fourth with a time of 48.34.
In the 4x200-meter relay, the Panthers team of Robinson, Sansom, Johnson and Dockery placed first with a time of 1:37.12. The Bulldogs team of Juarez, Xavius Escobedo, Juan Penete and Starns placed third with a time of 1:44.80.
In the 4x400-meter relay, the Panthers team of Damian Rodriguez, Daniel Rodriguez, Dobrovolny and Burns placed first with a time of 3:44.37.
In the long jump, Robin- son placed first with a jump of 20’-9 ¾”, Johnson placed second with a jump of 19’10 ½”, Campos placed third with a jump of 19’-6” and Dockery with a jump of 17’-7 ¾”.
In the shot put, Sansom placed first with a throw of 40’-5 ½”, Ryder Graf (Whitharral) placed second with a throw of 36’-8”, Dobrovolny placed third with a throw of 33’-9 ½” and Xavi Avalos placed sixth with a throw of 30’-03”.
In the discus, Sansom placed first with a throw of 146’-4”, Bradley Gray (Whitharral) placed second with a throw of 117’-3”, Avalos placed third with a throw of 99’-8” and Juarez placed fourth with a throw of 91’-3”.
In the triple jump, Robin- son placed first with a jump of 42’-7”, Johnson placed second with a jump of 42’5” and Campos placed third with a jump of 40’-9 ½”.
In the high jump, Daniel Rodriguez placed first with a jump of 6’, Damian Rodriguez placed third with a jump of 5’-8” and Zian Martinez placed sixth with a jump of 5’.
In the pole vault, Starns placed first with a vault of 8’-6”.
Following the meet, both the Panthers and Bulldogs head coaches reflected on their teams’ performances.
“I thought the boys really got after yesterday and competed well,” Panthers Head Track & Field Coach Josh Watson said. “They are gradually getting in better shape meet by meet, and their times are improving because of it.”
“The boys competed well. I’m super proud of our kids,” Anton Head Track & Field Coach Tami Wilson said. “They are involved in so many spring events (ag, tennis, golf, track, FCCLA) but they never backed down to a challenge.”
Both teams will return to action on April 16 for the Area Meet at Dawson High School.