St. Michael’s boys handily lead the way in their second annual Invitational Saturday by winning 11 events, with senior Hayden Lee first in the 100 and 400, and second in the long jump

By Arnie Leshin 

The Santa Fe Prep boys couldn’t overcome the overall dominates of first place Albuquerque Hope Christian, but the versatile Griffin seniors Sam Sparks and Sean Coles continued their impressive run to the districts and state championships.

 

At Saturday’s annual Mark Shumate Invitational run at Albuquerque Menual, Coles won both the 100 meters in 11.63, and the long jump by soaring 21-4.5. Sparks finished second in the long jump with a best of 20-4, and took third in the triple jump by going 39-9.

 

But the 400 belonged to Sparks as he led the field in 51.59. Prep scored 42 points as the runner-up, but Hope Christian’s depth brought it the top spot with 129 points.

 

. . . At St. Michael’s second annual Invitational, it was all Horsemen making their selves at home by scoring 201.5 points to dominate the field that had Cuba second with 66, West Las Vegas third with 62, Robertson next with 41, and then came Bernalillo with 27.5.

 

Not only did St. Michael’s sweep the four relays, but tacked on seven individual winners led by senior Derek McQuiston clearing the high jump at 6-feet, the long jump by soaring 20-6, and racing the lead leg on the 4 x 200 relay team.

 

That quartet ran 1:33.62, the 4 x 100 passed the baton in 44.94, the 4 x 400 turned in a 3:55.84, and the sprint medley went 4:05.94. Running the three legs behind McQuiston were senior Hayden Lee, senior Sebastian Alvarez, and junior Michael Waring, who also ran the second leg on the sprint medley foursome.

 

Then there was Damian Lujan on the third leg of the 4 x 400 and also settling for second place in both the 110 and 300 intermediate hurdles, with West Las Vegas’ Darion Williams taking the 110 in 18.34, the 300 in 45.34, and right behind was Lujan in 18.84 and 45.54, respectively. They were the only two in both hurdles.

 

The 1,600 went to St. Michael’s senior Justin Angel in 4:48.84 after making a comeback from a groin injury that sidelined him last season. Senior Justice Johnson ran 2:06.90 for second place in the 800 only a stride behind first place Isaiah Paez of West Las Vegas, who clocked 2:06.84. Paez was second to Angel in the 1,600 with the time of 4:54.14.

 

Adrian Balderamos, a Horseman senior who has had to overcome injuries on the football field, was first in the shot put with a 44-8 throw. In the 100 meters, Lee edged McQuiston 11.54 to 11.84. But in the long jump, it was McQuiston first (20-6) and Lee (20.5.5) second.

 

In the discus, it was St. Michael’s junior Jaden Mifund having the longest throw of 115-5. The javelin was won by Horseman senior Dominic Morgan with a throw of 143-10.

 

. . . In the Santa Fe Indian School Invitational, Academy of Technology and The Classic boys took the team title with 178 points, with runner-up Thoreau scoring 93. That gave ATC a sweep of the team scoring.

 

Leading the way for the Phoenix was senior Ahbedoh White Eagle claiming the 100 and 200 meters, as well as the long jump. He improved his second best time in the century by racing 11.4, and also ran the anchor leg on the victorious 4 x 400 relay team that came away with a state-qualifying time of 45.9.

 

Then there was senior Chris Bower taking the discus with a toss of 130-6 ½. Junior John McCombs won the pole vault, Sophomore Ian Apodaca the 400, and freshman Brennan Trujillo the high jump.