High school track season gets under way with Middletown invitational
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MIDDLETOWN >> Middletown High School hosted an invitational track meet for field events only Friday at Bill Foltmer Field in Middletown.
All of the Lake County schools were present except Clear Lake, and they were joined by Calistoga, Anderson Valley, Making Waves Academy (San Francisco), Ferndale and St. Bernard’s Academy (Eureka).
First-place medals were awarded in all events for boys and girls – shotput, discus, high jump, long jump, triple jump and pole vault. Of the 23 events, both varsity and frosh-soph, host Middletown came away with 12 medals.
“It was the first competition of the year for my team and I’m happy with how they performed,” Middletown head coach Wyatt Hall said of the Mustangs. “With the weather in February, we have not been able to practice our field events as much as we would like but my athletes didn’t let that hold them back.”
Standouts for Middletown were Dylan Caviness, who cleared 9 feet, 6 inches to win the varsity boys pole vault, an event where the top five finishers were all Mustangs.
“While it’s not a personal best, it’s a great start to the season,” Hall said. “Dylan qualified for the Meet of champions (in 2025) and is working toward that goal again this year.”
In the varsity girls division, Middletown’s Isa Barnes won the triple jump (32-11.5, a personal best), placed second in the high jump (4-4) and third in the long jump (14-1)
“Isa added the triple jump to her arsenal in the offseason, and I think she’s going to have a lot of success in the event,” Hall said.
In the frosh-soph boys division, Middletown’s Luke Mace won the long jump (19-8.5).
“His jump would have even topped the varsity boys division,” Hall said. “Luke is a great athlete, and I am excited to see all he can accomplish this season.”
In the frosh-soph girls division, Middletown’s Charlize Hill won the long jump (13-7, personal best).
“Hill is a very gifted distance runner who I am excited for this year, but this meet gave her a chance to show she has promise in the long jump as well.”
Added Hall, “Overall, I am proud of all of my athletes. The season has just begun, but it’s looking good so far.”
Other meet highlights for Lake County teams included:
Varsity boys
Lower Lake’s Alfonso Rones won the shotput with a personal-best throw of 41-4 while Kelseyville’s John Carr was fourth with a toss of 38-2.5, also a personal best.
Jorge Carlos of Lower Lake placed second in the discus with a throw of 116-6 while teammate Rones was fourth (115-7).
In the high jump, Jamisen Jackson of Middletown cleared 5-0 in the fewest attempts to top the field. Runner-up Kaden Coltharp of Upper Lake, third-place finisher Cale McLean of Kelseyville, and fourth-place finisher Jacob Parker of Kelseyville also cleared 5-0.
In the pole vault, trailing Caviness (9-6) in the final standings were Middletown’s Ren Ueno (8-6) and Sean Torres (8-0).
In the long jump, Esteban Muniz of Middletown came in second (17-9) and Upper Lake’s Coltharp was fourth (16-1). Muniz also finished third in the triple jump (33-10.5).
Varsity girls
Angelina Bendure of Upper Lake won the shotput (27-4) while Alivia Stark (27-2.5) and Crystal Duval (26-5.5) of Middletown came in second and third, respectively. Mirabel Myer of Lower Lake (26-2) was fourth.
In the discus, Middletown’s Duval topped the field in 85-3 while Lower Lake’s Juliet Backer-Lewis was fourth in 65-3.
Middletown’s Jolene Holley won the high jump in 4-8. She was followed by teammate Barnes and Kelseyville’s Kylee Denham (4-2).
Jordan Stark of Lower Lake won the pole vault, clearing 7-0. Ally Cherry (6-6) and Len Rivas (5-6) of Middletown finished second and third, respectively.
Upper Lake’s Saphira Hughes was the runner-up in the long jump at 14-5. Middletown’s Veronica Daughtery came in fourth (13-6.5).
Frosh-soph boys
Benji Pimentel of Middletown won the frosh-soph boys shotput in 35-10 while Angel Ruiz of Kelseyville took top honors in the discus at 73-1.
Hudson Kelley of Middletown won the high jump at 5-0 and Zach Norris was first in the pole vault (8-0).
Frosh-soph girls
Jaqui Nunez of Middletown won the frosh-soph girls shotput in 23-3 while Lower Lake’s Neveah Myer was first in the discus (62-11).
Dakotah Burton of Kelseyville won the high jump, clearing 3-8 in the fewest attempts, to edge out teammates Alexandra Garcia and Paola Abarca, both of whom also cleared 3-8.
Trinity Wood Middletown won the pole vault (5-6), and Riley Givens of Lower Lake won the triple jump (30-5).
Schedule
Middletown’s athletes are back in action next Saturday at the Jim Crowhurst Track Extravaganza in Ukiah.
