Sandhills Regional Qualifier Meet Slated
     By Jessica Ray, Staff Writer ~~ The Monahans News, April 10, 2008

Monahans' Sandhills Relays will be held at the newly renovated track after a one year break for construction.  The meet will take on a twist from the traditional invitational style, moving instead to a regional qualifiers meet.  The Relays will host approximately 25 teams ranging from 1A, districts send the top four contestants to area, and the top four at area to region.  From the regional meet, the top two go to the state meet.

In 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A conferences, the top three in each district compete regionally, where the top two go on to the state meet.

Monahans has qualified 31 entries for the Region 1 meet.  Eureka Roy won second place in the girls discus at  the district meet to earn a regional berth.

Calvin Franks will advance in the boys high jump, while Kati Holly and Kali Lewis will represent Monahans in the girls high jump.  Holly cleared first place with a solid eight inch dominance. Lewis also region-qualified in the triple jump and two relays.

Matt Montoya will long jump at the regional level after placing third in district.                                 

Chase Williams is the district's leader in shot put, and will also compete at this weekend's Sandhills relays, and the Region 1 meet.

In the running events, David Sida, Sean Britton, Tyson Childress and Oscar Ruiz won gold in the sprint relay and the 800 relay.

In the 1600 relay, the same team minus David Sida will compete.  Tanner Owens fills in the missing leg on the district's best 1600 relay team.

The girls also have their share of relays to look forward to at regionals after qualifying in the 800 and 1600 relays.

In the 3200 meter run, Bryan Azuaje and Colt Smith will challenge in the boys' event, while Michelle Azuaje and Demi Carrasco run for the girls.

Marissa Acosta placed third at district in the 800 to qualify for regional competition.

In the 100 meter hurdles, Margie Vidana will take a regional ticket, while Quincy Titus will race in the 110 hurdles. Vidana also has a berth for the 300 meter hurdles.

Tyson Childress and David Sida placed first and second, respectively, in the 100 meter dash, and will go on to compete in the next round.

Tanner Owens will compete in the boys 400 meter, while Abby Marquez will represent the Green in the girls 400.

Sean Britton took first place on Monday to earn bragging rights as the district's fastest 100 meter dasher. His time of 23.21 seconds beat Fort Stockton's Francisco Jaquez by seven-hundredths of a second. The regional race should be just as exciting.

Jordan Latham placed third, and will also compete in the 200 at regionals, for the girls.

The 1600 meter runs will have four Monahans contestants at the Region 1 meet:  two girls, Michelle Azuaje and Demi Carrasco and two boys, Colt Smith and Chad Harris.

This weekend's event takes place on Friday.  Field events will start at 3:45, and the running events will begin at 6pm.

Keyed by Ashlen Horak, Sr. '08