In terms of high-end performances, it was likely the best night yet of the high school indoor season in New Mexico.
We just received results from the New Mexcio Open (February 1), and there are a few performances of note:
- El Paso's KeAndre Bates went 49-3.25 to win the triple jump and vault to World Youth Games participant into the #2 postion on the national indoor rankings.
- Paulo Benavides, also out of El Paso, went 16-5.75 in the pole vault, moving swiftly to the #8 slot in the national rankings
- William Mayhew of Colorado Springs ran 1:54.71 in the 800, claiming a #9 position in the national rankings.
While that's it for top-ten positions in the national rankings, there were plenty of additional performances of more local significance.
Lindsey Larsen's high jump season looks better with almost every outing. This time she was over 5-5.75. Steven Duran dropped a 51.36 400, edging out Mark Haywood for second in the event. Jordan Byrd, an 8th grader, won the 60 meters in 7.21. And, it's time to start taking notice of La Cueva's Gus Swanson, who finished second in the 200 and won the 60 hurdles in 9.10.
Molly Klein won a tightly-contested girls mile, just beating Kendall Kelly and Arena Lewis to the finish line in a very good early-season time of 5:22.53. And, Akeisha Ayannini took dual crowns in the 60 and long jump, taking her long jump mark out to a state-leading 16-10.75.
The Colorado contingent came away with another event title when Bayfield's Jessica Cusick edged Patrice Daniels in the 800, just a hair over 2:29. Meghan Aguilera was just a step behind both.
Justin Kerstetter won the boys mile in about 4:38 with a very strong finish ahead of Aaron Valenzuela and Aric Kedge, but timing gremlins wiped out the official results for that event.
Complete Results