Raiders and Cougars battle tough competition with strong performances at Durango meet

Competition was tough at the Ron Keller Invitational in Durango, CO for the Whitehorse and Monument Valley track and field teams, but they fought through and emerged with some top-notch performances.

Raider star Weston Manygoats came away from the meet with two fourth-place finishes in the 800 meter and 1600 meter to add to his already impressive track and field and cross country career.

With two top performances of her own was Shania Mitchell – a seventh place in the shot put and an eighth place in the discus. Also placing for the Raiders was Rueshandin Jim with a tenth place finish in the long jump and the girls 4x100 relay team which finished sixth.

For the Cougars, two throwers led the team with ninth-place finishes. Shandon Fatt hucked the discus over 88 feet, securing his finish, while Dawnae Yazzie threw 25 feet, one inch in the shot put. Fatt also placed 14th in the shot put while Yazzie came home 15th in the 1600 meter.

Five other Cougar throwers recorded finishes in the top 15. In the shot put Seth Shepard placed 11th and Theo Tohsonie placed 15th for the boys. In the girls shot put, Tasheena Cly placed 11th, Chalyishia Tsosise placed 12th, and Alyah Blackwater placed 14th.

In the discus competition, Theo Tohsonie placed 11th, Chalyishia Tsosie placed 12th, and Alyah Blackwater placed 15th. Yanabah Smith, the sole Cougar to run the 800 meter in this meet, ran well enough to earn herself a 15th place finish in that event.

The Monument Valley and Whitehorse teams are both headed to Monticello this week to compete in the Blue Mountain Invitational on Friday, April 29.