CHELSEA MONTES • Provided to Great Basin Sun
Pershing County junior Angelo Gibson prepares to pass the baton.
The Pershing County High School track and field team had its first meet last Saturday in Fernley.
Fourteen boys and 10 girls represented Lovelock, a dramatic increase over recent years.
The results thrilled coaches Chelsea Montes and Ben Halverson.
“Our athletes looked great and everyone did amazing,” they said.
The boys competed in nine different events including the 100, 200, 400 and 800 meters, the relays, shot put, discus, high jump and long jump.
They showed remarkable promise in the relay races.
They placed first in the 4x200 and 4x800 and second in the 4x100, just a fraction of a second behind Mineral County.
Juniors Luis Sanchez, Denzel Zaldivar and Izayuh McGlothin teamed up with sophomore Josiah Hunt for the 4x100.
Angelo Gibson joined Sanchez, Zaldivar and Hunt for the 4x200 at 1:37.00. The 4X800 race included sophomores Ashton Jimenez, Ramon Sanchez, freshman Jorden Fitch and Gibson, a junior. They finished at 9:53.16.
Gibson beat his previous record in the 400 meters by four seconds (54.50). Denzel Zaldivar had never run the 400 before but clocked in at 56.45. Ashton Jimenez went under a minute for the first time (1:00.08) and Jordan Fitch also PR’d (1:03.44).
The girls competed in nine different events including the 100, 200, and 400 meters, the 4x100 relays, shot put, discus, high jump, long jump and triple jump.
Khloe Montes, Kenya Vaughan, Elizabeth Nava Gonzalez and Hayley Montes placed second in the 4x100 (56.11) relay behind Eureka (55.29).
Sophomore Hayley Montes placed third in the 200-meter race (29.43). Freshman Khloe Montes came in fourth (29.43), a PR. Khloe Montes finished second in the 400 meters (1:09.51), also a PR.
“Our throwers had exciting results. For five of the six, it was their first high school meet and they all did great. They’re a competitive group and it’s great to see how they support each other. I’m excited to watch them grow together,” said Halverson. “They are motivated and have a lot of heart.”
“The sprinters had a lot of PRs. The relays were amazing. I’m excited to see these young athletes work together as a team and support each other,” Montes added.
On Friday, March 15, the Mustangs travel to the Dayton Dust Devil Invitational.