Portales posts pair of wins on first day

ALBUQERQUE — It was a short and sweet state track meet for Portales senior Jordan Roehl.

Shot put win in the morning, a rally for third place in the discus, and a Saturday off to soak and support her teammates in her final state meet.

Portales also earned a Class 3A state title on the boys side when Jacob Brady successfully defended his discus title.

Brady threw a 140-3 in the discus, more than nine feet ahead of second-place finisher Weston Trammell of Lovington.

He left the meet after his event to take part in his high school graduation Friday night, and he plans a return today to compete in shot put.

“It was expected coming into the year,” Portales boys coach Glenn Johnson said of Brady. “We have high expectations in the shot put, too. He’s got the farthest throw at the moment.”

Genaro Olivas came in sixth with a toss of 114-9.

Roehl wasn’t quite as successful as Brady in the discus, as she had to go into competition without the disc she had been using all season.
“It didn’t weigh in,” said a still-surprised Roehl. “You just get used to a disc.”

She was certainly used to her shot, as her toss of 37-9 would have won 4A and placed second in 5A.

“It wasn’t the best throw I could have done,” Roehl said, “but I was pretty happy.”

Jenna Wagner took sixth in long jump for Portales’ other point in girls competition.

The Lady Rams qualified the 800-meter relay team, while the boys qualified all four relays for today’s finals.

“This is a huge performance for us,” Johnson said. “This is the first time in a few years we have all the relays make the finals.

“The guys have put themselves in a position to do whatever they want at this point.”

Las Vegas Robertson leads the girls meet with 21 points. Portales is sixth with 12 points.

Robertson also leads the boys meet with 17 points. Portales is fifth with eight points.