The season is heating up for Panther track and field.
Having opened their spring campaign at Western Carolina University March 7, on March 14 the team traveled to Montreat College. Versus more than two dozen teams from across WNC, several Panthers impressed against top competition.
Senior Laura Covarrubias was Franklin’s most valuable Panther once again, winning the women’s 100-meter dash (12.17 seconds), 400-meter dash (59.00 seconds) and long jump (16’11”). Senior Charley Seagle also earned an individual win, taking home the women’s shot put (38’4”) and placing fourth in the discus (96’8.5”).
Junior Michelle Ortega was close behind Covarrubias in the sprint events, placing third in the 400 (1:01.83) and fifth in the 100 (12.97). The Panthers also took first in the 4x400-meter relay (4:12.48), third in the 4x100 (52.34) and fourth in the 4x200 (1:54.09).
In the distance events Franklin’s top two girls impressed once again, with Morgan Cress placing third in the 3,200 (12:37.84) and fifth in the 1,600 (5:48.55); and Amy Mendoza Lopez taking third in the 1,600 (5:40.31) and fifth in the 800 (2:31.20). Breanna Pendergrass claimed fifth in the 3,200 (13:14.55), while Abigail Pope finished seventh in the 1,600 (6:10.12).
In addition to Covarrubias, several other Panthers placed highly in the jump events, led by a third-place 5’0” high jump from Isabella Shope. Kamden Reis placed fourth in the triple jump (32’5”) and fifth in the long jump (15’8.5”), while Ella Raby placed seventh in the high jump (4’6”).
On the boys side Franklin dominated the jump and vault events, claiming the top three spots in the pole vault with David Rogers (13’0”), Aaron Dewhurst (12’0”) and Josiah Mascorro (11’6”). Rogers also placed fifth in the 400-meter dash (53.00)
In the high jump Noah Brannon (6’2”), CJ Engert (6’0”) and Jacob Morales (5’6”) placed first, second and fifth, while Gabe Harrison (19’5.5”), Brannon (18’9”) and Braylen Dezarn (18’8”) finished second, third and fourth in the long jump. Dezarn also placed third in both the 110 (15.67) and 300-meter (41.27) hurdles, just ahead of Chad Engel (sixth in 110, 17.13), Josiah Sheldon (seventh in 110, 17.93) and Jonas Phillips (ninth in 300, 46.47).
Ken Modlin continued to impress in the sprint events, placing third in the 400 (52.38) and ninth in the 200 (23.54). Justin Rodriguez placed sixth in the 200 (23.36) and ninth in the 100 (11.61), while Tyler Koch placed eighth in the 100 (11:56) and 12th in the 200 (23.87). Matheson Post led the Panther men in the longer distances, placing fourth in the 800 (2:07.68) and eighth in the 1,600 (4:58.46).
In the relay events Franklin’s men matched their female teammates, taking first in the 4x400 (3:32.62), third in the 4x200 (1:34.80) and fifth in the 4x100 (47.57). In the throwing events, Cade Bell placed seventh in the shot put at 41’8.5”.
Following their second large meet at a college in two weeks, the Panthers had just a few days to prepare for their third, planning a trip to UNC Asheville March 19. Just two days later, the most elite Panthers will travel to Virginia Beach for the Adidas Indoor Nationals.