When Bernie Montoya (Jr., Cibola) woke up on Saturday morning he wasn't sure what the day would hold at the Rattler Invitational.
Earlier in the week Montoya had set a goal..... he was hoping to break Billy Orman's 1600 meter record of 4:16.82 at last years Rattler Invitation. A full blown cold cast doubt on the runners confidence as he prepared for the race, "Before I got sick I had a goal to break Billy's record but today I was thinking, 'if I could pull this off, my gosh," he said after the race. "I can only imagine if I was 100 percent. I am just thankful I didn't die out there. I thought I was going to be coughing up a storm."
As the race began Montoya took a slight lead early but at the 100 mark of the 2nd lap another athlete stepped onto the track and into Montoya's path. "I saw her walking toward the track and thought 'I don't know if she sees me. I just thought, 'don't stop, don't hesitate......just quickly go around her."
And he did so with a smile.
As the spectators watched in anticipation, Montoya swerved out into lane 3 to get around the athlete and avoid a colision.
Each lap Montoya looked as strong as the first and with Ron Smith (announcer) keeping everyone informed of his splits, Montoya decided to go for it.
Montoya ran a 4:15.94 to break the record and hold a spot at US#3.........and then he couldn't stop coughing.
Later in the day Montoya won the 3200 in 9:29.83 (US#17) followed by Ryan Wesson (Jr., O'Connor) in 9:46.48.
The 1600 meter run for the girls was a little different. Lacey Peterson (Jr., Millenium) took an early lead with Mesquite freshman Alice Jensen in 2nd and Monica Houston (Jr., Cibola) in 4th. Houston moved into 2nd place on the 2nd lap and passed Peterson at the 100 mark of the 3rd lap. Houston won the race in 5:17.59 (AZ#3) followed by Peterson in 5:24.15 and Krista Goll (So., Pinnacle) in 5:36.56.
Alice Jensen went on to win the girls 3200 meter run with a time of 12:23.75 followed by Erin Kloberdanz (Sr, Deer Valley) in 12:27.81 and Ali Ingram (Sr., Greenway) in 12:31.80.
Ky Westbrook (So., Chandler) won the girls 100 meter dash in 11.97 with a slight wind aide of 2.2. Her time ranks her at US#14. Ky also won the girls 200 meter dash in 24.78 for a US#12. Tiffany Williams (Sr., Sandra Day O'Connor) finished 2nd in the 100 dash in 12.51 followed by Tope Williams (Sr., Chandler) in 12.61. Dominique Jackson (Fr., Chandler) finished 2nd in the 200 meter dash in 24.97 (US#22) followed by Tope Williams in 25.51.
Trae Armstrong (Sr., Deer Valley) won the boys 100 meter dash in 10.96 giving him a tie for 2nd place in Arizona but his real strength appears to be in the 200 meter dash winning in 21.66 for a US#13. Trevon Myles (So., Mesquite) finished 2nd in 21.73 for a US#19 spot and Javon Williams (Sr., Chandler) finished 3rd in 21.79 for a US#26.
Javon Williams (Sr., Chandler) won the boys 400 meter dash in 48.77.
Jasmine Stauffacher-Gray (Fr., North Canyon) won the girls 400 meter dash in 57.18.
Devin Centers (Sr., Chandler) won the 110 hurdles in 14.68 and the 300 hurdles in 40.37.
Makaila Flannigan (Jr., Chandler) won the girls 300 meter hurdles in 43.74.
Sydney Tassielli (Sr., Valley Christian) won the girls 100 meter hurdles in 15.93
Field Events:
Shawn Collins (Sr., Chandler) won the boys shot put with a toss of 54-07.50.
Kylene Knutsen (Sr., Chandler) won the girls discus with a toss of 125-9
Deante Gaines (Sr., Cibola) won the boys long jump with a jump of 22-01.00
Jalissa Smith (Fr., Westwood) won the girls high jump with a jump of 5-00.00
Grant Sisserson (Jr., Horizon) won the boys pole vault with a jump of 15-00.00
Bianca Finn (So., Chandler) tossed the shot put 39-05.00 for the win
Travis Colby (Sr., Chandler) tossed the discus 163-2 for the win
Kennedy Broom (Fr., Chandler) jumped 17-3.00 to win the girls long jump
Eddie Wilcox (Sr. Chandler) won the boys high jump with a jump of 6-06.00
Diana Diep (Sr., O'Connor) won the girls pole vault with a jump of 10-00
Michael Poirier-Shelton (Jr., Chandler) won the triple jump with a jump of 44-04
Moriah Hayes (Sr., Dobson) won the girls triple jump in 35-10.00
Relays
4x800 Meter Relay Team from left: Blake Elliott (Sr), Kyle Elliott (Sr), Gabe Oliver (Sr) and Anthony Celaya (Jr)
Dobson high school got out to an early lead as senior Blake Elliott was the first to pass the baton, handing it off to his brother Kyle. Kyle increased the lead on the 2nd leg and handed it over to Gabe Oliver (Sr) who then handed off to Anthony Celaya (Jr). The team finished the relay in 8:12.55 followed by Maricopa in 8:25.22.
4x800 Meter Relay Team from left: Megan Mahalovich (Sr), Desirae Elias (Sr), Beatrice Martinez (Jr), Mia Townsend (Jr).
The Dobson girls took the early lead in the first lap with O'Connor in 2nd, Pinnacle in 3rd and Chandler in 4th. By the time the first leg was done O'Connor moved into 1st with Pinnacle in 2nd. Megan Mahalovich from Chandler moved into 3rd and handed the baton to Desirae Elias. Desirae moved into first on her first 400 and kept the lead as she passed the baton to Beatrice Martinez. Beatrice kept the lead as she handed off to MIa Townsend for the final leg. Chanlder finished the race in 10:04.13 with Pinnacle taking 2nd in 10:23.34.
Sandra Day O'Connor boys won the 4x100 meter relay in 42.43 led by Alex Harris (Jr), Marcus Setoki (Jr), Dionee Marrero (Jr), and Austin Cottrell (So). Chandler High School finished 3nd in 42.80 followed by Aqua Fria in 43.41.
Chandler girls won the 4x100 meter relay in 47.49 led by Dominique Jackson (Jr), Sherrelle Jordan (Jr) and Ky Westbrook (So) and the 4x400 meter relay in 4:01.95 led by Sherrelle Jordan (Jr), Dominique Jackson (Jr), Mia Townsend (Jr), Bacall Sterlings (Sr).
Chandler boys won the 4x400 meter relay in 3:20.27 led by Deselle Dean (Sr), Paul Perkins (Sr), Javon Williams (Sr) and Toure Price (Sr).