ALBUQUERQUE — Portales did well on both sides in Class 3A state high jump on Friday at the University of New Mexico track facility.

Junior Alex Ledbetter jumped a personal-best 5-feet, 3 inches to claim the girls championship for the Lady Rams, while senior Ben Blue was second at 6-0 in boys competition.

altCMI photo: Rick White
Portales senior Wyatt Legler rounds the curve in the first heat of the Class 3A boys meters Friday at the University of New Mexico track in Albuquerque.

Meantime, the Rams qualified three events for today’s track finals and the Lady Rams qualified four.

Ledbetter fended off District 4-3A rival Cori Haley of Lovington to take the high jump title. Both cleared 5-2 and were the last jumpers standing, and neither went over 5-4.

The bar was dropped an inch for a jumpoff, and Ledbetter cleared it on her first try while Haley missed.

altCMI photo: Rick White
Portales sophomore ShiAnn Nuckols passes the baton to anchor Kristen Wagner in a heat of the Class 3A 1,600-meter relay Friday at the University of New Mexico track in Albuquerque. The Lady Rams finished fourth in the heat and advanced to today's finals.

“She just did great,” Lady Rams coach Sandie Schillings said of Ledbetter. “Alex has usually come out on top (this season against Haley), but it was a really good competition today.”

Blue was one of four jumpers to clear that mark, but got the higher finish based on fewer misses. The winning jumper cleared 6-2.

“He’s done a great job this year,” Rams coach Glenn Johnson said of Blue. “He’s really worked hard, and it all paid off today.”

Qualifying for boys finals today were the 400 relay, which was sixth in a time of 44.80, and seniors Collin McAfee, seventh in the 300 hurdles in 42.72 seconds, and Wyatt Legler, eighth in the 200 in 24.2.

The Rams also have sophomore Tristan McKinley running today in both the 800 and 1,600.

The Lady Rams qualified eighth-grader Shereya Cox in the 100, sophomore Maggie Gaeta in the 100 hurdles and their 1,600 and 1,600 medley relay teams for today’s finals.

They have five other events competing today, including Ledbetter in pole vault and sophomore Kristen Wagner in triple jump.