Morgan sets new school record in 1600M
by David High
LA JUNTA —The annual La Junta Open Track Meet filed the parking lot in La Junta with school buses this past Thursday as 31 schools made the trip to the eastern plains of Colorado for the early season event.
The girls’ and boys’ teams from schools all over the southern part of the state competed in 18 and 17 events, respectively. A mixture of 1-A through 3-A schools attended, with Alamosa winning the day for the girls’ division, totaling 111.5 points, and Pueblo West winning on the boys’ side with 85 team points.
The La Veta teams were once again represented by a small contingent due to spring break the previous week.
Redskin Eric Morgan continued sharpening his running skills this season in the 800 and 1600M distance events. Morgan, an all-around Redskin athlete, placed twice again in this, just the second meet of the spring season. In the first heat of the 800M finals, Morgan hit the 2:20.55 mark for an eighth place finish. In the 1600M, Morgan came in sixth, setting a new La Veta school record with a time of 4:54.46 in the third heat (previous record was 4:57). Javen Enns, in the 1600M, and Dalton Mason, in the discus, also competed for the La Veta boy’s team.
The Redskin girls’ best efforts were led by three places in the top 20 with Emmy Mason finishing 12th in the long jump going 14’-0.5”and 19th in the 100M dash at 20.18.
Cori Beth Topping came in 17th in the 200M event at 33.29.
Desirae Ortivez, in the 100M, Hope Jones in the 400 and 800M runs; Cailee Sanchez and Kalynn Palmer in discus; and Shelby Lessar and Jaycee LaGow in shot put, gave it their best, competing in the meet as well for La Veta.
Running coach Ron Ortivez and throwing coach Lila Cordova commented that the girls’ and boys’ teams should be up to full strength in the coming weeks, with the relay teams taking form the rest of the season.
Saturday the Redskins will head over the pass to the Salida Invitational for the next meet, the third this year.
