ALBUQUERQUE — Oh, Clovis senior Kenny Betts will take the Class 5A discus title he won by a mere three-quarters of an inch on Friday, but a gold medal in shot put today would be more precious.

Betts' throw of 148 feet, 9 inches on his first throw was good enough to edge Volcano Vista’s Mike Budick (148-8 1/4) on the first day of the Class 5A state track competition at the University of New Mexico track complex.

 

 

 

altCMI photo: Rick White
Freshman Nichele Hyman passes the baton to senior Nikki Jimenez after the first leg of Clovis' sprint medley relay on Friday in a Class 5A preliminary heat at the University of New Mexico track in Albuquerque.

Betts’ win was one of two for CHS on Friday. Junior Jenna Sievers claimed the girls’ high jump crown.

 

 

 

Betts wasn’t sure he’d won at first.

“I thought (Budick) beat me,” said Betts, who recites Bible verses between throws to calm his nerves. “It feels good after all the hard work this season.”

Betts had to settle for second last year in shot, beaten by three inches on his last throw. Even worse, Betts said, “it was a guy from Hobbs (Kevin Fry).”

altCMI photo: Rick White
Clovis junior Chase Beausoleil fights for position in the Class 5A boys 3,200 meters final Friday at the University of New Mexico track in Albuquerque. Beausoleil finished 12th out of 16 runners.

Wildcats senior Chris Lewis was fourth in the event at 144-6.

With a year to dwell on it, Betts, who signed to play football at Eastern New Mexico University, said he’ll be ready today.

Meantime, Sievers added a Class 5A high jump title to the 3A crown she won last year for Portales.

She beat Rio Rancho Cleveland’s Cassie House and Sara Hattis on fewer misses after all cleared 5-foot, 6 inches.

altCMI photo: Rick White
Clovis freshman Steven Beckham races out the blocks in the first leg of the 1,600 medley relay Friday at the Class 5A state track meet in Albuquerque.

Sievers cleared what turned out to be the winning height on her first attempt — calling it “probably the best jump I ever had.” House cleared 5-6 on her second attempt and Hattis needed three tries.

All failed on three shots at 5-8.

“I’m glad I got it on the first try,” said Sievers, who was nursing a quad injury coming into the meet and sat out the 100 hurdles to concentrate on the high jump. “I was really nervous.”

Sievers, nursing a quad injury, had to make a quick transition to the 300 hurdles and did not qualify for today’s finals. She was pulled from the 100 hurdles.

“Jenna had two great attempts at 5-8; that would’ve tied the school record if she’d gotten it,” CHS girls coach Mike Hankins said.

Senior Marivel Garza threw easily a personal best in girls shot put at 38 feet, 8 inches, but the two-time defending 5A champion was edged out this time by Hobbs’ Evyn Gallegos, who threw 38-11 1/2.

Garza took the lead at 38-2 on her second-last attempt, beating her top effort of 37-0 1/2 set in last week’s District 4-5A meet at Hobbs. Gallegos then surpassed her again, and Garza came up just short on her final try.

Garza later finished sixth for the Lady Wildcats in discus at 106-10, while senior Maddie McNaughton placed fourth in the girls 1,600 in 5 minutes, 28.25 seconds.

In track preliminaries, the Cats’ 800 relay team qualified second for today’s finals in 1:28.27, trailing Cleveland at 1:28.15, while their 400 relay team advanced by finishing sixth in a time of 43.03 seconds.

The Lady Cats’ 800 relay team also finished second to Cleveland in prelims, running 1:44.83 to 1:43.17 for the Storm, and their 400 relay was fifth in 50.09 seconds. Meantime, the 1,600 relay team qualified fourth with an unofficial time of 4:14.

Sophomore Sasha Smith was the No. 6 qualifier in the girls 100. Like Sievers, Smith is also nursing a quad, but helped out on the relays.

“Sasha had a good day and ran well,” Hankins said.


Betts’ win was one of two for CHS on Friday. Junior Jenna Sievers claimed the girls’ high jump crown.

Betts wasn’t sure he’d won at first.

“I thought (Budick) beat me,” said Betts, who recites Bible verses between throws to calm his nerves. “It feels good after all the hard work this season.”

Betts had to settle for second last year in shot, beaten by three inches on his last throw. Even worse, Betts said, “it was a guy from Hobbs (Kevin Fry).”

Wildcats senior Chris Lewis was fourth in the event at 144-6.

With a year to dwell on it, Betts, who signed to play football at Eastern New Mexico University, said he’ll be ready today.

Meantime, Sievers added a Class 5A high jump title to the 3A crown she won last year for Portales.

She beat Rio Rancho Cleveland’s Cassie House and Sara Hattis on fewer misses after all cleared 5-foot, 6 inches.

Sievers cleared what turned out to be the winning height on her first attempt — calling it “probably the best jump I ever had.” House cleared 5-6 on her second attempt and Hattis needed three tries.

All failed on three shots at 5-8.

“I’m glad I got it on the first try,” said Sievers, who was nursing a quad injury coming into the meet and sat out the 100 hurdles to concentrate on the high jump. “I was really nervous.”

Sievers, nursing a quad injury, had to make a quick transition to the 300 hurdles and did not qualify for today’s finals. She was pulled from the 100 hurdles.

“Jenna had two great attempts at 5-8; that would’ve tied the school record if she’d gotten it,” CHS girls coach Mike Hankins said.

Senior Marivel Garza threw easily a personal best in girls shot put at 38 feet, 8 inches, but the two-time defending 5A champion was edged out this time by Hobbs’ Evyn Gallegos, who threw 38-11 1/2.

Garza took the lead at 38-2 on her second-last attempt, beating her top effort of 37-0 1/2 set in last week’s District 4-5A meet at Hobbs. Gallegos then surpassed her again, and Garza came up just short on her final try.

Garza later finished sixth for the Lady Wildcats in discus at 106-10, while senior Maddie McNaughton placed fourth in the girls 1,600 in 5 minutes, 28.25 seconds.

In track preliminaries, the Cats’ 800 relay team qualified second for today’s finals in 1:28.27, trailing Cleveland at 1:28.15, while their 400 relay team advanced by finishing sixth in a time of 43.03 seconds.

The Lady Cats’ 800 relay team also finished second to Cleveland in prelims, running 1:44.83 to 1:43.17 for the Storm, and their 400 relay was fifth in 50.09 seconds. Meantime, the 1,600 relay team qualified fourth with an unofficial time of 4:14.

Sophomore Sasha Smith was the No. 6 qualifier in the girls 100. Like Sievers, Smith is also nursing a quad, but helped out on the relays.

“Sasha had a good day and ran well,” Hankins said.