YOUR AD HERE »

Huskies girls win track regionals

Chris Freud
Vail, CO Colorado
BMTI Amelia Ortiz 2 DT 5-7-11
ALL |

GRAND JUNCTION – The Battle Mountain girls track and field team rules the 4A Slope.

The ladies in Huskies’ black and gold won their first league title since 1993 Saturday, knocking off heavily-favored Glenwood Springs, 181-172, at the 4A Western Slope League Meet down in Grand Junction.

Though it had been in the works during the season, the win marks a rebirth of the sport at Battle Mountain, and beating Glenwood Springs – the Demons had won the title four years running – might qualify as one of the school’s most memorable wins in years, regardless of sport.



“It’s just awesome. Words can’t express it,” Huskies coach Ken Long said. “It’s a great feeling, especially for (senior) Amelia Ortiz. She’s been carrying us for years, so for her to go out on top as a league champion is great. For the rest of the team, they are so young and that is so exciting. This is a great learning experience. I think we’re going to make some noise in the next few years.”

It the Battle Mountain girls team’s first track and field title since moving up to Class 4A in 2000. The Huskies competed at the 3A level back in 1993. And they celebrated with gusto.

Support Local Journalism



“I did get the Gatorade bath,” Long said. “I didn’t know they did that in track and field.”

While a track title is team effort – it takes everyone scoring in every event – the Huskies have league champions in their 1,600- and 3,200-relay teams as well as Molly Childers in the pole vault and Logan Carlson in the high jump. The mile relay is Valerie Constein, Katia Lopez, Tesha Olsen, and LaRose Currie. The 3,200 team is Mandy Ortiz, Constein, Olsen and Amelia Ortiz.

Childers flew 9 feet, 6 inches to her title, leading the Huskies to a 1-2-3 sweep with Bailey Garton and Currie. Carlson jumped 5-1, followed by Constein at 5 even.

All of the above qualified for state, making the precious top 18. Amelia Ortiz is also made it in the 3,200. For the boys, Zach Guida is going in pole vault, while David Shearon makes a repeat appearance in the 3,200.

“(Coach Jeff) Krum(lauf) was talking about 2008 when we took like 20 kids,” Long said. “This is really something, just from where the girls have been. We’ve got about 20 kids going to the state meet. We have no expectations. We’re just going to go down there and experience it.”

Devils have two champs

Roxy Trotter and Austin Woodworth, come on down.

Trotter won the 800 and Woodworth flew to a pole-vault title this weekend at the 4A Western Slope League Meet.

Trotter took the 800 in 2 minutes, 23.60 seconds, and she’s a freshman. She’s the first Eagle Valley girls athlete to win the 800 at the league/regional level since Kim Smith (2:16) did so. That’s Eagle Valley track royalty, as Smith won the 800 state title three years in a row back in the late 90s.

“I never thought anyone would get in spitting distance of 2:16, it’s been that long,” said Devils coach Jeff Shroll, who also coached Smith.

For Woodworth, he busted his own school record – again. The new mark is 13-3. They both will going to state as will freshman Michelle Carbajal, who added two feet to her personal record in the triple jump with a 35-8. Jeremy Sabo’s off to Denver as well in the high jump. He went 6 feet Saturday, but also had 6-3 jump earlier this season.

Eagle Valley had some serious heartbreak with its 3,200 relay teams. Both had been on the bubble, going into this weekend. Both set school records Saturday, and both finished 19th, one spot out of the state 18.

“They left everything out on the line,” Shroll said. “I have never been so proud and so crushed at the same time.”

Madeline Lounsberry, Trotter, Kelly Cassidy and Kendra Clements ran a 10:10.53. Matt Kottenstette, Omar Perez, Zeke Sandoval and Ryan Werner clocked an 8:25.08.

Saints sending a bunch

Small school, big contingent.

Vail Christian shined at the 2A/1A Western Slope League Meet, and the forecast is looking good for the Saints when it comes to next week’s 1A state meet– yep this is the first year for that format.

Kylie Alexander went 9 feet in the pole vault, and she’s heading to Denver. Ashlyn Gruber really didn’t stop all weekend with her myriad of heats and finals in the 100, 200, 400 and 800,

Gruber finished second in the 800 with a 2:25, and third in the 400 with a 1:00.7. She is qualified for state in the 200, the 400 and 800.

The girls 400 relay didn’t run this weekend because of the school’s mission trip, but Alexander, Gruber, Micaela McGuckin and Alexis Ellsworth were safely within the state time already.

Coach Tim Pierson projected that Mack Cooper, Nigel Johnson and Gunnar Wilson, who went 3-4-5 in the pole vault, have wrapped up state bids.

On the bubble are Kevin Boselli (1,600 and 3,200), Brandon Currey (300 hurdles) and the boys 400 relay team. CHSAA will announce the official state field Monday.

Sports Editor Chris Freud can be reached at 970-748-2934 or cfreud@vaildaily.com.


Support Local Journalism