By: MIke Smith
Dodge City track and field wrapped up the indoor season with several Conquistadors competing at the highest level as part of the NJCAA Indoor National Championships in Lubbock, Texas.
The Conqs would have several personal record marks, and two performances were improvements on school records for a pair of individuals.
The final performance from the Conqs at Nationals was the best finish at the NJCAA Indoor National Championships as the women's 4x800 meter relay team posted a time of 9:40.43 to finish sixth place. The Conqs earned a spot on the podium by winning their heat and finishing sixth in the event, as the quartet of
Ivy Washington,
Ava Washington,
Gracee May, and
Sarai Chavez capped the indoor season strong.
Kasey Kopetic improved upon his school record in the 60-meter hurdles posting a time of 7.95 to finish 10th in the event just missing out on the finals.
Albert House also competed in the 60-meter hurdles finishing with a personal record time of 8.05 to place 14th; he also ran in the 400-meter run notching a time of 51.59.
Bianca Gleim finished the indoor season with her best time in the 400-meter run improving her school record time by running a time of 56.42 to finish 12th in the event.
Chavez who competed on the 4x800m relay team also competed individually in the 800-meter run posting a personal best time of 2:20.81 to finish 12th, while also competing in the 1000-meter run notching a time of 3:10.84.
The Washington twins both also ran in the 1000-meter run as Ivy and Ava posted personal best times of 3:07.16 and 3:08.23 in the event.
In the men's high jump,
Brenden Carter recorded a leap of 2.04 meters (6'08.25") to finish 12th, while
Deven Bolton recorded a jump of 1.99 meters (6'06.25") to place 16th. Also, in the field events
Matthew Garcia and
Dante Reid competed in the weight throw. Garcia had a personal best throw of 15.40 meters (50'06.25") to place 14th and was just .09 meters off the school record. Reid finished with a throw of 14.09 meters (46'02.75").
The women's distance medley relay team of Gleim, May,
Ivy Washington, and
Daniela Cerda finished with a time of 13:02.42 to place 13th.
Josue Vega recorded a time of 15:27.48 to place 14th in the 5000-meter run, while
Olivia Leatherman notched a time of 8.99 in the 60-meter hurdles earning her a 15th-place finish.
The Conqs will now turn their attention to the outdoor season, which starts on March 28th and ends on March 29th, when they compete at the Broncbuster Invitational in Garden City.