BulldogEarlyBirdTrackMeet-03-11-16.jpeg: Bulldog Darnell Wilkins completes a hurdle during the Early Bird Invitational Friday March 11. Wilkins came in third behind teammate Dallen Wolfe, far right and winner R.J. Huburt. Photo by Lou Martin.

BulldogEarlyBirdTrackMeet-03-11-16.jpeg: Bulldog Darnell Wilkins completes a hurdle during the Early Bird Invitational Friday March 11. Wilkins came in third behind teammate Dallen Wolfe, far right and winner R.J. Huburt. Photo by Lou Martin.

The Virgin Valley High School boys track team won their own Early Bird Invitational Track Meet with a score of 179 points against seven other high schools. Leading the way for the Dawgs was senior Kai Mitchell with three first finishes. Mitchell won the 300 meter hurdles with a time of 43:05. Mitchell added a first in the long jump and high jump to lead all individual scorers.

Bulldog weight-man Thomas Lee garnered a first place with a throw of 39’11” in the 12 pound shot. Second place point getters for the Dawgs were Ryan Rushton in the 800 meters, Dallen Wolfe in the 110 meter high hurdles and high jump plus the 4X100 relay team of Wolfe, Mitchell, Charles Erickson and Pedro Osuna and the 4X400 team of Salvador Guzman, Ryan Rushton, Christian Martinez and Osuna.

Other point getters for the Dawgs were Osuna and Justin Dahn in the 200 meter dash, freshman distant runner Vicente Pinto with thirds in the 800 meters and grueling 3200 meter runs, Jordy Saldana with fourth place and sixth place in the 1600 and 3200 meter runs, Wolfe added a fifth in the 300 meter hurdles, Darnell Wilkins brought home points with a third in the 110 meter and sixth in the 300 meter hurdles.

Bulldog weight-man Cole Stenberg took a third in the shot and pole-vaulters Brogan Bingham and Tyler Reber placed third and fourth in their specialties. Bulldog triple jumpers Jaxon Sharr and Luis Aisburo placed fourth and fifth respectively. Throw in third place finishes by the Bulldog 4X200 and 4X800 relay teams, the Dawgs had a good day of work.

“I thought we got the right start (season) for both the boys and the girls,” said Coach Hartman. “Kai had a great meet and I think senior Dallen Wolfe had a productive meet.”

The first five finishing teams in the meet were VVHS 179 points, Kanab (Utah) 129.5 points, White Pine (Ely) with 106 points, Lincoln County with 86 points and Moapa Valley with 76 points.

The Bulldogs will host Western, Moapa Valley and a strong Faith Lutheran High School team in a quad-meet on Thursday, March 16 at the Dawg Pound.