Lady Cat track wins in Alamogordo

Clovis’ Phillip Williams competes in the 100 meters against Alamogordo brothers Brandon Browning, center, and Josh Browning, right, during the Alamogordo Qualifier track meet Friday in Alamogordo. (Alamogordo Daily News: Ellis Neel)

ALAMOGORDO — The Clovis boys track team picked up three state qualifiers as it finished third Friday at the Alamogordo Qualifier.

Senior Jacob Jones (400-meter), senior Matt Loewen (3,200) and the 800 relay squad all reached qualifying times.

“They’re getting better each week,” Clovis boys coach Darren Kelley said of his team, which scored 74 points.

Rio Rancho won for the second straight Friday with 110 points. The Rams won April 15 in Clovis at the Wildcat Relays.

Jones won the 400 in 50.36 seconds, edging Los Lunas’ Alex Plascencia by .03 seconds.

Loewen took fourth in the 3,200 (10:08.36), but his best placing was second in the 1,600 (4:44.10).

Jones was part of the 800 relay squad with senior Phillip Williams, junior Tanner Fickling and Rishard Matthews that took second in the 800 (1:30.83), .33 seconds behind Rio Rancho.

“Pretty much all four of them ran their personal best of the year,” Kelley said. “They’re learning how to compete and taking pride in the mile relay.”

Freshman Manuel Robles won the triple jump (41-2) and also took second in the 200 (23.61).

Wildcat senior Damian Robinson ran a personal best in winning the 110 hurdles (14.33). He was followed by sophomore teammate Brian Mead (15.5).

Williams took second in the 100 (10.71).

Jacob Teofilio was third in the shot put (46-10.5), as was senior Tanner Williams in the long jump (19-8.5) for Clovis.

Kelley said Robinson in the 300 hurdles, Mead in the 110 hurdles, Loewen in the 1,600 and the 1,600 medley relay are on the verge of qualifying for state.

“We should be able to get those four Tuesday night,” Kelley said. “That’s what our goal is.”

The boys and girls teams compete Tuesday at Hobbs and Friday at Carlsbad in the final two meets before the District 4-5A championship May 6-7 in Carlsbad.

Kelley is confident about his team continuing its dominance in district track. Clovis has won three of the last four District 4-5A meets.

“It won’t be like last year where we won 100 by points, but I think we have a real good shot if we go out and compete,” Kelley said.

For the Lady Wildcats, Kim Perkins picked up two first-place finishes as Clovis won its second consecutive meet and third this season. The Lady Wildcats, who finished with 110 points to 88 for second-place Cibola, haven’t finished lower than third this spring.

Perkins won the 100 hurdles (16.17) and triple jump (32-0).

The Lady Wildcats also got a boost from their relays, winning the 400 (49.74) and 800 (1:47.53) relays and also placed second in the 1,600 relay (4:10.60).

Clovis’ Jasmine McDonald, Brittany Blackmon and Ebony Bunton went 1-2-3 in high jump, led by McDonald’s 5-2.

Blackmon was second and Bunton third, both at 5-0.

Kacee Escobar won the discus for Clovis by nine feet with a throw of 121-9. She was also third in the shot put (34-3).

Vanessa O’Neal took second in the long jump (16-5 1/2) and third in the triple jump (31-3).