Lady Rams race to win at Eunice meet

With help from all parts of the team, the Portales Lady Ram track team came away with a first-place finish Tuesday at the Goodman Relays in Eunice.

“We ran, jumped and threw well,” Lady Ram coach Ruth Chavez said. “A lot of our points came from field events for the first time.”

Portales overcame the Carlsbad junior varsity and host Eunice team, which placed second and third respectively. Artesia was fourth and was Jal fifth.

En route to the win Portales qualified two of its relay teams, the 800 meters and the 1600 medley for state.

The team of Dallas Russell, Kandace Bergseiker, Tara Johnson and Jenna Wagner finished first in the 800 meter relay with a time of 1:53.95. Russell, Johnson, Wagner then teamed with Miriam Madrid to win the 1600 medley in a time of 4:42.49. That team also won the 1600-meter relay as well.

Jordan Roehl recorded two state qualifying marks while placing first in the shot put and discus and second in the javelin to pace the team from the field. In the discus, Portales captured the top three places with Johnson finishing second and Britney Rivers third.

Bergseiker led the way for Portales in sprints with a first place finish in the 400 meters and seconds in the 100 meters and 200 meters.

The Portales boys team also had a successful outing, finishing second at the meet.

Carlsbad’s junior varsity edged the Rams out for the win while Eunice was third.

The highlight for the Rams was the strong showing of its relay teams. Portales took first in four relay events. Joey Moore took first in the 200 meters while teammate Aaron Worten was first in the 400 meter sprint. Ram Taylor Teague was third in the 100 meters.

The team of Teague, Moore, Zach Vigil and Steven Heckert won the 400 meter relay, Vigil, Eric Segovia, Brandon McAfee and Tyler Anderson were first in the 800 meter relay, Moore, Vigil Heckert and Devin Stinson won the 800 meter medley, while Worten, Heckert, Moore and Jose Mendoza won the 1600 medley.

Jacob Brady contributed a first place discus heave of 124 feet, 4 inches to the mix.

“We’re very pleased with where we are right now,” Ram coach Glenn Johnson said, “even though we have a few injuries right now.”

The track team is at Melrose today for the Buffalo Relays.