Vigil, Cardenas, Cotter earn gold at RMAC Championship

PUEBLO —The Adams State men and women’s Track & Field team capped off the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Outdoor Track & Field Championships this weekend in Pueblo, Colorado, at the Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl on the campus of Colorado State University-Pueblo and finished off the day with some top performances.

In the men’s discus, Sam Dirkes finished off strong as he earned a silver medal throwing 48.71 meters. Jordan Larson set a new personal best as he medaled as he secured a bronze medal with a final throw of 46.53. James Hochanadel threw 39.77 meters, followed by George Galaviz who threw 38.22 meters as they also competed in this event.

In the men’s shot put John Hochanadel finished in fourth with a throw of 15.46 meters, followed by James Hochanadel who placed fifth with a throw of 15.42 meters, and Sam Dirkes in sixth with a throw of 15.16 meters as they competed in this event.

The Grizzlies did an outstanding job in the men’s 4x100 relay as they finished in fourth with a time of 42.20 with a team that consisted of Leroy Elliot, Jordan Spencer, Eric Williams, and Jonah Vigil.

In the men’s 1,500 meters Mikah Paiz ran a phenomenal race as he placed fifth running a final time of 3:58.56, followed by Andrew O’Keefe in seventh (3:58.73), and Davonte Jett-Reynolds in 10th (4:03.61).

Stephanie Cotter took off in the last lap on the woman’s 1,500 meter as she earned a gold medal with a final time of 4:37.79, followed by Morgan Hykes who placed sixth with a final time of 4.44.75.

The Grizzlies that competed in the men’s 110-meter hurdles were Leroy Elliot and Jordan Spencer. Elliot ran an impressive race as he earned a bronze medal with a final time of 14.08. Spencer put in his full effort and finished in fifth as he posted a final time of 14.99.

Jonah Vigil never fails to represent the Grizzlies well as he earned a gold medal in the men’s 400-meter dash. Vigil finished strong as he ran a final time of 47.98, Godfrey Chama also competed in this event as he ran a final time of 50.48.

David Cardenas ran a superb race as he sprints to the finish and earns the gold medal in the men’s 800-meter run. Nicole Lawrence sets a personal best of 2:10.37 as she earns a silver medal in the women’s 800- meter run.

In the men’s 400-meter hurdles Neveh Jones placed fourth as he posted a time of 54.48, followed by Jordan Spencer who placed eighth with a final time of 56.06.

Yonas Haile placed fifth in the men’s 5,000 meters as he ran a final time of 15:08.52, followed by Joshua Jospeh (15:36.57), and Elijah De La Cerda (15.36.57) as they also competed in this event.

In the women’s 5,000-meter Reina Paredes had an outstanding performance as she gave it her all to earn a bronze medal. Paredes ran a final time of 18:35.50, followed by Amalia Dorian who posted a final time of 19:05.45.

Finishing off a long week of success for the Grizzlies was the men’s 4x400 meter relay as they earned a bronze medal. The Grizzlies that competed in this event were Keilin Jones, David Cardenas, Godfrey Chama, and Jonah Vigil.

Overall, the men’s team finished in fifth with 89 points and the women’s finished in eight with 44 points.

The Grizzlies had some stellar performances this week as will continue to train through. The next championship race the Grizzlies will be looking forward to is the NCAA Division II National Championship in Allendale, Michigan beginning in May 27- May 29.