Shamrocks 6th after Day 1

Yuma Catholic's track and field team are in sixth place after the first day of the 2A State Championships at Mesa Community College.

 The boys won earned two medals and qualified for nine more events in today's finals. Paul Corona was fifth in the pole vault (13 feet) and Rod Ford tied for third in the high jump (5-10)

 "Paul was kind of disappointed with his performance," YC coach Ralph Farr said. "He planned on a better height and had practiced well all week for it."

 Corona (triple jump), Ford (200, 400, 1,600 relay) Ed Harris (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, triple jump), Ernie Samaniego (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 1,600 relay), Austin Rodriguez (400, 1,600 relay) and Elliot Cooley (discus) will be competing today, but Farr fears his team won't be able to catch Valley Christian.

 "It's going to be a dog fight for second ri ght now with three or four other teams," he said.

 Rachel Harman put the Shamrock girls on the board with a time of 12 minutes, 54.70 seconds for fifth place in the 3,200-meter run, and the 4x800 team had a season-best time to place fifth as well.

 The girls will be competing in five finals events today, including Alexandra Rosado in the shot put and discus.