It was a less than overwhelming debut for the McClave track team this past Saturday in their first meet of the season.
    Competing in the 32-team state-qualifying Lamar Invitational, McClave had a minimum number of placers in the tough opening meet.
    Coach Brianne Howe wasn't disappointed however:
    "It is going to take us some time. We only had half of our girls competing and with all six of our boys playing baseball too, we  know that it is going to take some time to get them in track shape.     “It was good to see what our competition in the future is going to look like. Limon won every one of the relays on the girls side, and it was good to see what they are going to have when we get our girls ready. Likewise for the boys; we have a good idea of where we need to work," said Howe.
    The boys did fairly well, considering they are a six-man team.     Senior Gage Coen showed that he is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the sprints, as he won both the 100 and 200 in his first action of the season. Coen, a state placer a year ago in the 100, dominated the field in both races, as he also anchored the winning 400 meter sprint relay team.
    Comprised of freshman Jimmy Bencomo, Darron Williams, Ethan Williams, and Coen, the Cards were happy with their first performance of the year.
    "It was really good to see that relay do well. We have two new
 members of that team, so we wondered how that would go. That group has only scratched the surface of what they can do," stated Howe.
    The team of Coen, the two Williams brothers, and junior Blayze Melgoza took a third in the 800 sprint relay as well, making it a successful debut for both sprint relays, events McClave dominated a year ago.
    For the girls, it was Jerrica Mallard who provided most of the heroics. Mallard won the 100 meter sprint, just missing out on a
 state-qualifying time. She finished second in her specialty, the 100 meter hurdles.
     "Jerrica is going to be just fine. Like all our athletes, she just hasn't had much time on the track with the long basketball seasons. She hit every hurdle in the final and still barely lost the race. I liked how she came back in the 100 and won the race,"  said Howe.     Freshman Sydney Curley also surprised with a fifth place finish in the discus, her first meet in varsity action.
    The team will travel on Saturday to the always-tough Burlington Invitational. Again, the girls' team will be short-handed as Howe rests sophomore Brittney Dickerson and senior Ashley Tague with injuries they suffered in basketball.
    More girls should be present however and the boys' team will have a little more time on the track to get in shape.
    "We are going to be fine. We are not going to rush into things. When we get people ready and when we get in track shape, we are going to be fun to watch," added Howe.