Rams work through lengthy first day at state

Staff report

ALBUQUERQUE — Even factoring in three weather delays, and an eventual weather stoppage, Friday was a pretty good day on balance for the Portales High track teams.

“Through all the adversity, our kids handled it well,” Portales coach Glenn Johnson said. “They competed well. We PR’d (hit personal records) in times, and we’re going back to the finals with quite a few events.”

linkThe Portales boys got two of their three relays — the 400 and 800 — qualified for today’s finals, while the 1,600 relay will be determined by best times in the two heats run at the end of the meet.

The boys are in a three-way tie for seventh place with four points after Friday’s events, all from senior Paul Conrow’s third-place high jump of 6-2. Only seven girls teams have scored so far — Portales is tied for sixth with one point, coming from freshman Jessica Campbell’s spot in a three-way tie for fifth in high jump.

“We knew she had an opportunity to place,” Johnson said of Campbell, “but going from (a previous season high of) 4-6 to 4-10, that’s what I’m talking about as far as kids stepping up. You can’t ask for much more than that.”

Taos leads in both the boys and girls meets — the Tigers are ahead of second-place Hope Christian 21-14 1/2 in boys competition and lead Ruidoso 15-12 on the girls’ side. But both meets are still wide open, Johnson said, with relays to play a big role.

“It’s just going to come down to tomorrow’s performances,” he said. “We’ll see how things come out.”