By Bobby Allen

SDN Sports Editor

The Snyder Tigers claimed seven events at the District 3-3A track meet Saturday, earning their first district championship in 24 years and sending seven boys in 11 events to the regional qualifiers Thursday in Roscoe.

Meanwhile, the Snyder Lady Tigers had their highest point total in the history of the program, garnering 139 points to finish in second, just eight points back of first-place Seminole.

“To my knowledge, that’s the highest the girls have ever placed in district,” girls coach Todd Pollard said. “It came down to the mile relay -- nothing was decided until then.”

October Wells qualified for regionals in five events, taking the gold in the 100 dash (11.91), the triple jump (35-2) and the 200 (25.91).

She also qualified by winning the silver in the long jump (17-3) and the 4x100 relay (51.22), along with teammates Terann Ragland, Sequoya Powell and Nicki Traylor.

Candace Chandler won the gold in the 800 run (2:32.08), and will join Erin Burleson, Jordan Stansell and Ragland on the silver medal mile relay team (4:21.58).

The boys collected 169 points finishing first in seven events, with Sweetwater coming in second with 148 points.

“I’m ecstatic,” head coach Roger White said.

Justin Boyd took home two gold medals, winning the high jump (6-2) and the 400m dash (49.27).

Josh Muniz won the two-mile run (10:54.32) and finished second in the mile, and Zach Cain and Garrett Pinson helped Snyder sweep the hurdles, with Pinson pacing the field in the 110m hurdles (15.02) and Cain taking the gold in the 300 hurdles (40.54).

Ricky McNatt dominated the field in the discus throw with a distance of 157.04.25, 10 feet better than Sweetwater’s Giles Montgomery.

The 4x100 relay team -- Malcome Wells, Cain, Boyd and Jesus Juarez -- earned gold with a time of 42.78, and the same group took second in the 4x200 relay.

Wells also qualified for the region with second place finishes in the 200 (22.27) and the long jump (21-4).

The junior varsity girls were second in the meet with 52 points.

Glyn Wright won two golds for JV girls, in the 100 and 200 dashes.

Amanda Rios took first in the shot put, while Natalie Martinez was third.

Sydney Wright finished second in the 300 hurdles and third in the 100 hurdles.

The junior varsity boys were third with 94 points. Merkel ruled the JV field, posting 208 points, 45 points better than second-place Seminole.

Michael Ford won the only gold for the JV boys, taking the 100 dash with a time of 11.23.

Cody Reed won the bronze in the 800 run as did Trent Early in the two-mile run.

District 3-3A

Track and Field Meet

Finals

April 17, 2004

Team Standings

Boys

1. Snyder 169; 2. Sweetwater 148; 3. Seminole 95; 4. Lamesa 80; 5. Merkel 72; 6. Denver City 56.

Girls

1. Denver City 62; 2. Snyder 52; 3. Seminole 42; 4. Sweetwater 18; 5. Merkel 6.