Mustangs Shine at Home Meet, Woodard Sets School Record

There are rare days in life when all the elements come together perfectly. The PCHS Mustang track meet on Saturday was one of those days.

Coach Ben Halverson said perfect weather, strong hometown support and the benefit of staying rested at home created the conditions for athletes to turn in strong times and marks.

Pershing County finished fourth out of nine schools in the boys standings with 88 points, behind Battle Mountain (139.5), Eureka (106.5) and Mineral County (90).

The girls placed third with 94 team points, behind Battle Mountain (170) and Eureka (123.5).

Senior Chealse Woodard delivered one of the day’s top performances, setting a new school record in the long jump with a leap of 16 feet, 11¾ inches. Halverson said she improved her personal record by more than a foot and broke the previous school mark by 11¾ inches.

Woodard also helped lead both the girls 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams to first-place finishes and new personal records.

The 4x100 relay team of Bella Zelaya, Camila Garcia, Woodard and Khloe Montes finished in 54.46, edging Battle Mountain (54.92).

The 4x200 relay team of Zelaya, Woodard, Ali Montes and Khloe Montes clocked 1:55.91, again narrowly defeating Battle Mountain (1:58.97).

Khloe Montes, a junior, also cleared 4’ 6” – a personal best – to place second in the high jump.

Senior Sugeily Valtierra set personal records in both the shot put (23 feet, 8 inches) and discus (65 feet, 1 inch).

“Overall, the girls alone had 15 personal bests, a season best and tied personal bests. Just a great showing,” Halverson said.

Hurdlers also turned in strong performances, which Halverson credited to coach Lupin Gomez’s work with the group.

Senior Laura Gomez appears well-positioned to qualify for state in the 300-meter hurdles, 100-meter hurdles and pole vault. She set personal records and placed second in both hurdle events while clearing 7 feet in the pole vault.

The Mustangs also posted strong results on the boys side, especially in sprinting and jumping.

Senior Josiah Hunt captured first place in the 200 meters, edging second place by just .02 seconds, according to Halverson.

Jaxson Happy won the long jump with a leap of 18 feet, 2½ inches.

Anthony Gibson placed third and set a personal record in the 110-meter hurdles (18.47).

Gibson (45.45) and Happy (45.82) placed second and third, respectively, while setting personal records in the 300-meter hurdles.

Aaron Zelaya and Quinton McKinney both set personal records in the high jump, clearing 5 feet, 6 inches, tying for third place alongside competitors from Whittell, Battle Mountain and Eureka.

The boys 4x100 relay team of Ashton Jimenez, Happy, McKinney and Johnathan Baker placed second with a personal-record time of 46.12.

Three Mustangs competed in the pole vault, with Jimenez placing third at 9 feet, 6 inches, Howard Mitchell fourth at 9 feet and Nathan Ortega clearing 8 feet.

Community members volunteered throughout the meet, and Port of Subs provided sandwiches for athletes and workers.

The Mustangs return to competition Saturday, April 18, at the Yerington Lions Invitational.