Track and field team sweeps opening meet at home

The Mountain Home Tigers edged Middleton in girls and boys track and field competition Friday at Tiger Field in Mountain Home.

Mountain Home won the girls competition, 71-53.

Alexandera Tatum and Sable Lohmeier were both double winners for Mountain Home. Tatum won the 200 meters and triple jump, Lohmeier won the shot put and discus.

Other first-place efforts went to Whitney Sandberg in the 100 meters, Keyondra White in the long jump, Makena Carson in the 100 meter hurdles, Rachel Johnson in the 300 meter hurdles and Willow Freer in the pole vault. Mountain Home's 4 X 100 meter relay team of Makena Carson, Alexandera Tatum, Keyondra White and Whitney Sandberg also won along with the sprint medley relay team of Yuridia Ayala, Whitney Sandberg, Rachel Johnson and Lexi Ogaard.

Keyondra White had second-place efforts in the 100 meters and triple jump. Other second-place awards went to Whitney Sandberg in the 200, Elisabeth Stephens in the 3,200 meters, Rachel Johson in the 100 meter hurdles and Julianne Mori in the high jump.

Jessica Wright finished third in the 400 meters while Alexis Georgianna finished third in the 3,200 meters.

Mountain Home edged Middleton, 68-62, in the boys competition.

Dallin Dearing was a double winner for the Tigers in the shot put and discus. Other firsts went to Joshua Robinson in the 200 meters, Ramon Gonzalez in the 400 meters, Anthony DeSantis in the 3,200 meters, Eric Reetz in the 300 meter hurdles and Nolan Pasqualeti in the high jump.

Mountain Home's 4 X 100 meter relay team of Eric Reetz, Franky Reed, Jacob Ryan and Jonathan Deese won along with, the 4 X 200 meter relay team of Eric Reetz, Franky Reed, Jacob Ryan and Jonathan Deese and the sprint medley relay of Will Weygint, Conno Weygint, Joshua Robinson and Nolan Pasqualetti.

Kyle Pendleton finished second in the 800 meters and 3,200 meters. Other second-place efforts went to Jonathan Deese in the 100 meters, Jordan Kline-Walden in the 400 meters, Anthony DeSantis in the 1,600 meters while Will Weygint and David Parrett tied for second in the pole vault.

John Goodell finished third in both the 800 meters and high jump, and Walker Harris took third in the 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs. Other third-place efforts went to Ramon Gonzalez in the 200 meters, Joshua Robinson in the 400 meters, Patrick Harris in the shot put, Brad Keierleber in the long jump and Jacob Warren in the triple jump.

Mountain Home's track coach Rich Urquidi was pleased with the team's first effort of the season.

"For the first meet, all of the coaches were pleased with performances," he said. "There were some new athletes we were able to see, and, as always, there are many places we can see the need for improvement. Being able to win our first meet of the year for both the boys and the girls is a great start."

Coach Urquidi indicated that eight Tigers have already qualified for the District meet with their efforts at Friday's meet.

Alexandera Tatum qualified for three events -- 200 meters, long jump and triple jump -- while Keyondra White earned the distinction in the long jump and triple jump. Sable Lohmeier and Dallin Dearing each hit marks in two events. Makena Carson, Willow Freer, Eric Weetz and Nolan Pasqualetti also punched tickets to district.

The Tigers head to Bishop Kelly on Thursday, March 19, for a tri-meet with the Knights and Caldwell. Action gets under way at 4 p.m. at Bishop Kelly High School in Boise.