But Manzano coach John Flores was warmed by his team's early-season state-qualifying times and its respectable second-place finish in the nine-team, red-division competition.

"I was very pleased," Flores said. "We're still short of kids, but the kids I do got are performing well. A lot of the basketball team helped by coming out."

Monarch Caroline Lewiecki of Tijeras ran a state-meet qualifying time of 2 minutes, 25.60 seconds, a little over a second faster than the Class 5A cut in the 800-meter run. The junior was the District 5-5A silver medalist in the event last year.

Lewiecki also earned all-state honors in cross country this past fall.

In addition, Manzano's Sondai Lonesome won both the 100 and 200 dashes Friday with state-qualifying clockings of 12.29 and 26.01.

Jacqueline Apodaca, one of the Monarchs' aforementioned hoops augmentees, placed first in the shot put with a throw of 31 feet, 5 inches. She was also the runner-up in the discus at 105-1.

Manzano sophomore Samantha Sword-Fehlberg, a volleyball player and swimmer, was second in the shot with a throw of 31-4. Sword-Fehlberg calls Cedar Crest home.

Veronica Vazquez, a senior from Tijeras, was third in the 1,600 run in 5:52.01. She ran cross country as well.

The Monarchs scored 77 points as a team. La Cueva won the Buddy Robertson team title with 126 1/2.

Manzano boys

Connor Morrison's third-place finish in the 400 dash was the highlight for the Monarchs at the Buddy Robertson boys' red-division meet at Wilson Stadium on Friday.

Morrison closed on the leaders — Highland's Warrick Campbell was first in 50.85 and Cibola's Justin Griego was second in 51.76 — in the final 200 meters. But the gap was too great for him to make a legitimate challenge.

Still, the Cedar Crest resident's placement and time of 52.35 was an indicator that things are looking up for the 5-foot-11, 160-pound junior. He was 1.55 seconds off the state-qualifying mark.

"I'm feeling pretty good, actually," said Morrison, who was happy with his showing after being injured during last year's track season and again during cross country in the fall. "I'd been running tight, like I was scared of getting hurt."

Morrison didn't wear his trademark tinted sunglasses during the run Friday. He said he gave up the shades for Lent.

Overall, the Monarchs took sixth at the Robertson with 17 points. They didn't field a foursome to run in the meet-ending 1,600 relay and departed the meet prior to its conclusion.

Cibola won the team crown with 136 points.

"Like I told the kids, what we lack in depth and numbers, we make up with talent — there's some talented kids on this team — and hard work," Manzano coach Harvey Carreathers said. "You can't get upset when everyone contributes. Maybe one of these days we'll get some more kids out."

Moriarty boys

The Pintos, aided by three gold medals, took fourth place with 58 1/2 points at the Jim Burke Invitational in Belen on Saturday. Volcano Vista was first among 10 teams with 102 points.

Freshman Austin Anaya paced Moriarty. He won the 3,200 run in 10:43.82, and he was second in the 800 at 2:07.51.

Senior Nick Jackson garnered the gold in the 400 with a time of 51.91. He was about a half-second short of the state Class 4A qualification time.

In addition, Jackson ran the anchor leg of the Pintos' winning 4x400 relay. He combined with senior Darrell Tidwell, sophomore Daniel Davidson and junior Mario Rodriguez for a time of 3:34.67, 1.67 seconds slower than the state meet requirement.

Moriarty girls

Pintos senior Seiona Minnick cleared the bar set at a state-qualifying 8-6 to win the pole vault at Belen on Saturday.

Moriarty sophomore Natalie Delora was third in the discus. Her distance was 93-9 1/2.

As a team, the Pintos were eighth with 22 points. Aztec, the victor, scored 95 1/2 points.

The Pintos' boys and girls will host the Moriarty Quad on Saturday. The Estancia boys and the Belen, Taos and West Las Vegas boys and girls will be their opponents.

"It's not a true quad because we have the Estancia boys, too," Pintos coach Joe Bailey said. "And I might not have very many kids there because it's spring break. We'll see."

The Moriarty Invitational on April 9 and the District 5-4A Championships on April 30 and May 1 will also be held at the Pintos' track for both the boys and the girls.

Estancia

The Bears' boys and girls, for a change of pace, will open their 2010 seasons on separate days and locations. The EHS girls, under the guidance of coach Laci Lockwood, will start with the Rocket-Coyote Invitational in Roswell today. Their male counterparts, led by coach Troy Coburn, kick it off at the Moriarty Quad on Saturday.

Mountainair

The Mustangs' boys and girls, respectively coached by Kevin Reese and Lynnelle Chavez, begin the season at the Tucumcari meet Saturday.

This year, Mountainair will show off their outdoor athletic complex by hosting both the Bean Valley Conference Meet on April 24 and the District 7-1A Championships on May 1.

East Mountain

The Timberwolves boys and girls have been idle since March 6.

Manzano in APS Combined Meet at Wilson Stadium: today, 9 a.m.

Estancia girls in Rocket-Coyote Invitational at Wool Bowl in Roswell: today, 3 p.m.

Estancia boys at Moriarty Quad, Saturday, 9 a.m.

Moriarty hosts quadrangular, Saturday, 9 a.m.

East Mountain at Jemez Valley meet, Saturday, 9 a.m.

Mountainair in Rattler Relays at Tucumcari: Saturday, 9 a.m.