Apache tracksters continue to increase point totals

Special to the Leader & Times

The Apaches Track team began the month with a big start in the Dan Cutting Invitational. 

The morning began with a strong start by D’Marcus Denton placing second in the eighth grade boys high jump after a jump off in a three-way tie after clearing 5’2”. 

Gerardo Mercado continued in pace with a record breaking 18’-6” in long jump to land him the gold medal in this meet. 

As the running events began the Apaches set the pace in the two-mile run with Bella Patel placing second overall and Danna Ortega in first for the seventh grade girls. 

This was followed up by Alex Gutierrez taking second place in the seventh grade boys two-mile run. 

The Apaches stayed strong moving into the eighth grade boys with Marco Rivas placing third overall in the two-mile run. 

The Apaches remained consistent as the day went on with Ben Brockett placing third overall in the eighth grade boys mile. 

Ariadne Ortega took second overall in the eighth grade girls 100-meter hurdles. 

D’Marcus Denton continued in stride with hurdles by taking third overall in the eighth grade boys 100-meter hurdles and second overall in the eighth grade boys 200-meter hurdles. 

Gerardo Mercado led the way in 200-meter dash receiving third place overall for the eighth grade boys. 

Chris Marin remained in stride in the 200-meter dash taking second place overall for the seventh grade boys and concluded the medal count with taking second overall for seventh grade boys in the 400-meter dash. 

The Apaches received multiple points by individual athletes along with a few relays. Issac Gonzalez took fourth overall in the righth grade boys shot and following in fifth overall was Alejandro Rendon.

Kamora Dean took sixth overall in the eighth grade girls shot put with Maryela Vargas not far behind in eighth. 

Odette Ortega took fifth overall in the seventh grade girls shot put. 

Everett Dean was just shy of pointing in seventh grade girls discus and received seventh overall. 

Kamora Dean stayed consistent and took sicth overall in the eighth grade girls discus as well. 

Issac Gonzalez remained in the running taking fifth overall in the eighth grade boys discus. 

Ashley Vizcarra continued the point match by taking fourth overall for the eighth grade girls two-mile run. 

The Apaches 4x800 seventh grade relay team took fifth overall. 

Maliha Navarro remained strong in the 100-meter and 200-meter hurdles taking fourth overall. 

Alvin Amador and Juandavid Melchor just missed pointing in their 100-meter hurdles. 

Viviana Favila gained a few more points by taking fourth in the seventh grade girls mile run and fifth overall in the open 800-meter run. 

The Apache relays included points by the seventh grade girls 4x100 with fourth overall, the eighth grade girls 4x100 with fifth overall, and the eighth grade boys 4x100 with fourth overall by a tenth of a second. 

The eighth grade girls also participated in a medley relay receiving fifth overall. 

“These lists could go on,” coach Toney said. “I’m merely stating the progression each one of our athletes have shown this year. Overall the Apaches have continued to show growth through each meet.”