Medford’s Cole, Ortiz set new school records

Medford track and field athletes Jackie Cole and Jesse Ortiz shared the Tigers’ biggest moments at the Gopher Conference Meet in Mapleton this past weekend when they both broke their own school record times.

Cole’s 12.46-second finish in the 100-meter dash completely shattered her previous record time of 13.39 and pulled her far ahead of all competition in the school record books.

The senior ran a 13.39 back in April to boost her mark, but her new time of 12.46 is a whole 1.13 seconds faster than previous record holder Samantha Lester’s 2012 time of 13.59.

The future University of St. Thomas track and field athlete followed up her impressive start by taking first in the 200-meter dash (26.22), second in the triple jump (35 feet, one inch), and helping Medford take second in the 4x100-relay in 51.84 seconds.

Medford’s Jesse Ortiz was also a four-event champ in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dash events as well as the long jump.

He also managed to set the new school record in the 200-meter by running a 22.57 – enough to break his own previous mark of 22.86. He also distanced himself from previous record holder Jerry Barta, who ran a 22.90 in 1973.

Ortiz ran an 11.17 in the 100-meter dash, a 51.63 in the 400, and leaped 20 feet, seven inches to secure his wins in the other three events.

Medford’s Isabel Miller (shot put) and Lydia Heiderscheidt (pole vault) both placed in their respective events.

Miller took third in the discus with a throw of 98 feet, four inches, while Heiderscheidt took third in the pole vault with a final height of eight feet.

Medford’s next competition will be its sub-section meet at Pine Island Elementary School’s track complex on Wednesday, May 22, at 4 p.m.