By Gene Helfman

Weekly contributor

Lopez couldn’t be in a better place heading into the post-season. The Blackhawk Invitational at Lummi Nation on May 1 showcased how far the Lobos have come this season. In the face of stiff competition from six other schools, Lobos athletes posted first place in eight events (including two relays), second place in 11 events and third place five times. Along the way, 44 athletes turned in personal records for the season, showing spectacular improvement.

Stand-out, first-place performances included Betty Burt (shot put and discus), Kylie Willemsen (high jump and 100-meter), Huck Henderson (discus), Ethan Patrick (800-meter), Ruby Ervin-McLean (100-meter hurdles) and Anna Fuller (800-meter). The girls’ 4×400 meter relay team of Lily Nichols, Glory Westervelt, Iris Ervin-McLean and Ruby Ervin-McLean took first place, as did the boys’ 4×400 meter team of Andris Meissner, Benjamin Stephenson, Oliver Rick and Patrick. Second-place honors went to Nichols (200-meter), Patrick (long jump), Henderson (javelin), Rick (400-meter), Meissner (800-meter), Rowdy Spreine (300-meter hurdles), Ruby Ervin-McLearn (300-meter hurdles), Alberto Grossi (triple jump), Westervelt (400-meter) and the 4×100 relay teams of Meissner, Patrick, Henderson, and Tristan Buckallew-Wilbur and Willemsen, Westervelt, Ava Bennett and Fatima Velazquez. The 4×200 relay team of Nicols, Westervelt, Willemsen and Iris Ervin-McLean also took second. Third-place finishes were posted by Nichols (triple jump), Silas Gronley (high jump), Elijah Somers (110 hurdles) and Stephenson (800-meter). Patrick, Meissner and Stephenson finished first, second and third in the 800-meter run.

Coach Shane Patrick and his staff couldn’t be happier with the results and with the team’s prospects at the League meet at Lummi May 15 and Districts May 17. The sky’s the limit.