PECOS TRACK AND FIELD

Pecos might not have a run again of state track and field championship teams at this time, but it still has strength with a number of juniors and one of the best boys 4 x 800 relays teams in 2A.

Plus, its head coach Patrick Ortiz became a father for the first time when his wife, Amber, gave birth to a boy the Sunday before Easter. And Godfather Victor Ortiz, an assistant coach, said the baby has the legs of a runner.

Then came the annual Fox/Vixen Relays contested at Fort Sumner Saturday, and boy’s sophomore Joshua Gonzales finished first in the pole vault at 9-1 and second in the 400 in the time of 56:44. Junior Elijah Lujan also had a one-two finish by winning the 1,600 in 5:12.14 and being runner-up in the 3,200 by clocking 11:24.94, and that’s not easy.

The Panthers also won the 4 x 800 in what was the most dominate stick-passing of the six relays. They closed the finish line in 9:15.14, and way behind was second place Texico in 9:46.04. Every other relay brought close finishes. The quartet consisted of Gonzales, John Muller, Malik Barrens and Zachery Fox.

The boys also picked up 61 points for 3rd place in the team scoring.

They were also led by other quality performances from juniors Muller, Barrens, Fox,

Lorenzo Ortega, Israel Villegas, and Kristina Ragland. Sidelined for this meet were seniors Jarvis Gonzales and Derek Ortiz.

Then there was Fox taking second in the 800 in 2:19.04, and third in the high jump with a best of 5-8. Barrens racing to second place in the 100 dash in 11:54, and third in the 300 hurdles in the time of 42:74. Oretga’s best was a fourth place in the 800 where he finished in 2:24.10. Muller ran 57:24 to place fifth in the 400, and Villegas turned in a 9:24 to claim the fifth spot in the 110 hurdles.

Santa Rosa was first in the team scoring with 77 points, Hagerman was next with 63, and then came Pecos. There were 15 schools in the field. And Friday is where the Panthers will be for the annual Santa Rosa Invite.

The Panthers’ girls settled for 13th place with 13 points, with senior Savanna Ortiz taking the runner-up place in the long jump with a best of 16-4, and dashing 13:54 in the 100 meters for sixth place. In the relays their best was a 4th-place 5:07.84 in the 4 x 400. Then there was junior Kristina Ragland going 2:51.54 for third place in the 800. In the girls field there were 19 schools.