Sports
Bobcats open 2009 track season
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| Senior hurdler: Above, Matt Barney leads the Bobcats in the hurdles. At right, Victoria Dukes has a strong showing as part of the Bobcats' 3,200-meter relay team. (Thelma Grimes photo) |
Linda Lamb
Special to the NEWS-Sun
In the first home meet of the season, the Benson High School girls' track team took first place Friday, hosting eight teams in the opener.
The Lady Bobcats finished the meet with 123 points. Close behind were the Desert Christian Eagles with 104, followed by Willcox with 62, the Tombstone Yellow Jackets with 58, Bisbee took fifth with 45, Academy of Tucson finished sixth, Valley Union took seventh, and the 1A St. David Tigers took eighth.
"I was pleased that the girls were able to win this meet," said Coach Linda Lou Lamb. "We still did not have all our girls back on the track, but we placed well for our first home competition. I'm really looking forward to seeing how well we do against the other teams in our conference (Thatcher and Morenci) when they come to our invitational in April."
Juniors Skylar Van Someren and Ari Andrade, and freshmen Tori Moncada and Victoria Dukes kicked off the meet with a first-place finish in the 3,200-meter relay.
Andrade also took first place in the 800-meter run, followed by Moncada, who took second.
Senior Katri Elsmore won the 100 hurdles. and turned in first-place finishes in the long and triple jumps. Andrade took second in the triple jump event.
Senior Chelsea Bellmore finished third in the 100-meter dash, while teammate ReBeca Ames took sixth place in the 100-meter dash. Bellmore also took fourth in the 400-meter run, and third place in the 200-meter dash.
Ames took first place in the 300-meter hurdles.
Dukes also took fourth in the 1,600-meter run.
In the 400-meter relay, Elsmore, Bellmore, Ames, and sophomore Kendall Garmon took second.
Van Someren, Garmon, Moncada, and Andrade finished third in the 1,600-meter relay.
In field events, sophomore Savannah Quiroz placed second in the shot put, followed by senior teammate Brooke Boegemann, who took fourth.
"This year we are working to rebuild the depth we had over the last three years and it seems to be working," Lamb said. "We graduated nine seniors from our girls' track and field program last year, all being state competitors. This year we had several new girls go out for the track and field team, along with a host of freshmen. So far we are holding our own. Now we have to see how we do in tournament competition, which will be the true test of our depth."
For the boys' half of the meet, the Bobcats finished fourth with 51 points. Winning the meet was Tombstone with 185 points, followed by the Bisbee with 119 points, Desert Christian took third, Benson fourth, Willcox came in fifth, the Academy of Tucson placed sixth and St. David took seventh place.
"I am very happy with the boys' team placing fourth in this meet, only four points out of third place," Lamb said. "They are much stronger depth wise than they were last year at this time, and much more advanced in individual technique. I can see them pulling out a few surprises against conference teams in the upcoming meets."
In relay events, the boys' team performed well. Sophomore Dan Dillon, Sheldon Thomas and freshmen Vicente Macias and Monty Reynolds took third place in the 3,200-meter relay.
Seniors Dain Dastrup and Oscar Cruz, along with Macias and junior Adam Malboeuf took third place in the 400-meter relay.
In the 1,600-meter relay, freshman Dillon Dastrup, Dain Dastrup, Barney and Reynolds took fourth place.
Dain Dastrup also took second in the 100-and 200-meter dashes and Barney took third place in the 110-meter hurdles and sixth in triple jump.
Cruz also took home two fourth-place finishes in the 400-meter run, and long jump.
"People were surprised that we placed so well in the sprints at this meet," Lamb said. "But we have been working hard with resistance training and getting out of the block with more speed. Our boys' team also lost a good nucleus last year, with seven of our team members graduating. With the freshmen and newcomers, however, our boys look very good for this year and the future of Bobcats' track and field."
Looking at the rest of the season, Lamb said the big difference in the future results of both girls' and the boys' meets will be the pole vault.
"Our new pole vault pits have been ordered to be here in time for the Jerry Lee / Benson Track and Field Invitational on April 18," Lamb said. "We have five boys and five girls who will be competing in this event. Three of these boys already qualified for the state meet at the Ted James / Douglas High School Invitational last weekend. Everyone will definitely see a jump in our overall team scores when our kids vault."
Dain Dastrup has also qualified for state competition early this season in the 100-meter dash.
Rounding out this year's high school track and field coaching staff are throwing coach Michael Saunders, distance coach Willow Clark-Hoaglund, vaulting/ jumps coach Randy Barney and honorary coach Jerry Lee.
"The coaches would like to thank everyone who helped at this meet," Lamb said. "Middle school coach Dan Barrera had many of his 60 track and field athletes running around helping with anything they could to assist us. One of the many great things about the Benson schools and community is how everyone is willing to help each other."
In addition to the high school track team, Lamb said she is excited abut the middle school athletes.
"It's so exciting to see them running and jumping and throwing, and learning how much fun track and field can be," Lamb said. "Coach Barrera is doing a great job with the middle school, bringing our young athletes into the track and field program. They show me every day how great the future of Bobcat track is."
The next high school meet will be the Bisbee Invitational on Saturday, April 4.
Special to the NEWS-Sun
In the first home meet of the season, the Benson High School girls' track team took first place Friday, hosting eight teams in the opener.
The Lady Bobcats finished the meet with 123 points. Close behind were the Desert Christian Eagles with 104, followed by Willcox with 62, the Tombstone Yellow Jackets with 58, Bisbee took fifth with 45, Academy of Tucson finished sixth, Valley Union took seventh, and the 1A St. David Tigers took eighth.
"I was pleased that the girls were able to win this meet," said Coach Linda Lou Lamb. "We still did not have all our girls back on the track, but we placed well for our first home competition. I'm really looking forward to seeing how well we do against the other teams in our conference (Thatcher and Morenci) when they come to our invitational in April."
Juniors Skylar Van Someren and Ari Andrade, and freshmen Tori Moncada and Victoria Dukes kicked off the meet with a first-place finish in the 3,200-meter relay.
Andrade also took first place in the 800-meter run, followed by Moncada, who took second.
Senior Katri Elsmore won the 100 hurdles. and turned in first-place finishes in the long and triple jumps. Andrade took second in the triple jump event.
Senior Chelsea Bellmore finished third in the 100-meter dash, while teammate ReBeca Ames took sixth place in the 100-meter dash. Bellmore also took fourth in the 400-meter run, and third place in the 200-meter dash.
Ames took first place in the 300-meter hurdles.
Dukes also took fourth in the 1,600-meter run.
In the 400-meter relay, Elsmore, Bellmore, Ames, and sophomore Kendall Garmon took second.
Van Someren, Garmon, Moncada, and Andrade finished third in the 1,600-meter relay.
In field events, sophomore Savannah Quiroz placed second in the shot put, followed by senior teammate Brooke Boegemann, who took fourth.
"This year we are working to rebuild the depth we had over the last three years and it seems to be working," Lamb said. "We graduated nine seniors from our girls' track and field program last year, all being state competitors. This year we had several new girls go out for the track and field team, along with a host of freshmen. So far we are holding our own. Now we have to see how we do in tournament competition, which will be the true test of our depth."
For the boys' half of the meet, the Bobcats finished fourth with 51 points. Winning the meet was Tombstone with 185 points, followed by the Bisbee with 119 points, Desert Christian took third, Benson fourth, Willcox came in fifth, the Academy of Tucson placed sixth and St. David took seventh place.
"I am very happy with the boys' team placing fourth in this meet, only four points out of third place," Lamb said. "They are much stronger depth wise than they were last year at this time, and much more advanced in individual technique. I can see them pulling out a few surprises against conference teams in the upcoming meets."
In relay events, the boys' team performed well. Sophomore Dan Dillon, Sheldon Thomas and freshmen Vicente Macias and Monty Reynolds took third place in the 3,200-meter relay.
Seniors Dain Dastrup and Oscar Cruz, along with Macias and junior Adam Malboeuf took third place in the 400-meter relay.
In the 1,600-meter relay, freshman Dillon Dastrup, Dain Dastrup, Barney and Reynolds took fourth place.
Dain Dastrup also took second in the 100-and 200-meter dashes and Barney took third place in the 110-meter hurdles and sixth in triple jump.
Cruz also took home two fourth-place finishes in the 400-meter run, and long jump.
"People were surprised that we placed so well in the sprints at this meet," Lamb said. "But we have been working hard with resistance training and getting out of the block with more speed. Our boys' team also lost a good nucleus last year, with seven of our team members graduating. With the freshmen and newcomers, however, our boys look very good for this year and the future of Bobcats' track and field."
Looking at the rest of the season, Lamb said the big difference in the future results of both girls' and the boys' meets will be the pole vault.
"Our new pole vault pits have been ordered to be here in time for the Jerry Lee / Benson Track and Field Invitational on April 18," Lamb said. "We have five boys and five girls who will be competing in this event. Three of these boys already qualified for the state meet at the Ted James / Douglas High School Invitational last weekend. Everyone will definitely see a jump in our overall team scores when our kids vault."
Dain Dastrup has also qualified for state competition early this season in the 100-meter dash.
Rounding out this year's high school track and field coaching staff are throwing coach Michael Saunders, distance coach Willow Clark-Hoaglund, vaulting/ jumps coach Randy Barney and honorary coach Jerry Lee.
"The coaches would like to thank everyone who helped at this meet," Lamb said. "Middle school coach Dan Barrera had many of his 60 track and field athletes running around helping with anything they could to assist us. One of the many great things about the Benson schools and community is how everyone is willing to help each other."
In addition to the high school track team, Lamb said she is excited abut the middle school athletes.
"It's so exciting to see them running and jumping and throwing, and learning how much fun track and field can be," Lamb said. "Coach Barrera is doing a great job with the middle school, bringing our young athletes into the track and field program. They show me every day how great the future of Bobcat track is."
The next high school meet will be the Bisbee Invitational on Saturday, April 4.
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