Mexico finally got back on track after rain washed out last week’s meet, and they did so in a big way.

The Bulldogs claimed the overall win in the boys competition at Tuesday’s Thunderbird Invite at North Callaway, with five firsts and seven second place finishes. Meanwhile the girls came in fourth in the 12 team event, thanks in part to the performances of Moenasia Sidique and Emma Nowlin.

Community and Van-Far also made the trek to North Callaway, where the host side also ran rampant – two firsts and a string of seconds for the Thunderbird girls, two wins and two silvers for the boys.

Mexico’s Jordan Mitchell won the boys 200 meter dash with a time of 23.76, edging teammate Anthony Shivers. Mitchell crossed second to Fayette’s Chase Allen-Jackman in the 100, with North Callaway’s Dakota Cash close behind.

Mitchell was part of the 4x100 squad that launched a near sweep of the relay events for the Bulldogs, with Shivers, Keeley DiBlasi and Dante Billups. The 4x200 lineup of Keeley DiBlasi, Evan DiBlasi, Shivers and Ian Williams also took gold, as did the 4x400 assembly of Keeley DiBlasi, Tyler Quinlan, Williams and Morgan Grubb.

The 4x800 team of Thomas Peuster, Quinlan, Race Azdell and Grubb finished second.

Raef Yager stood atop the high jump podium, clearing the bar at 5’11.50, two inches clear of North Callaway’s Brendan Reinhard. Yager finished second in the triple jump with teammate Kanye Nunnelly two spots behind.

Nunnelly said he was getting into rhythm. “That first step you have all that power,” he explained. “You have to maintain it.”

Tristan Webb of North Callaway captured the 400 meter dash crown with a time of 53.44.

In the distance events, Community’s Dylan Hoyt fared well, putting in a fourth place performance in the 1,600 and a third in the 3,200. Thomas Peuster of Mexico bested Hoyt in the 1,600, crossing in second. North Callaway’s Lane Kimbley took second in the 3,200 with the Bulldogs’ Guy Fairchild in fourth.

Van-Far’s Ennis Childs claimed the team’s top finish, crossing 11th in the long run.

Mexico’s Williams’ time of 45.16 in the 300 hurdles put him in position for silver.

Grubb battled Fayette’s Dillan Lembke in the pole vault competition, but fell just six inches shy at 9’11.75.

“My steps were a little off,” Grubb said, pointing out that his eventual goal is 11’6. “I’ve got a ways to go.”

The Thunderbirds’ Drew Rohrbach came in third. He picked up fourth in the shot put, while teammate Joshua Selby’s throw of 133.02 was enough for second in javelin.

On the girls side, Sidique flashed through the string at 1:00.52 to claim gold in the 400 dash, a full two seconds ahead of Montgomery County’s Lyric Ford to put the Bulldogs on top of the podium.

Emma Nowlin had a strong outing. While she considers shot put her weaker event, she came in seventh. Her strong event – discus – gave Mexico a second place with a heave of 91’00.

“I want to get to state, but it will take a lot to get me there,” she explained.

Trinity Brush of North Callaway took the win with a toss of 100’00. Community’s Ivy Hays was in the mix, as well.

The Thunderbirds Ellie Bedsworth finished second in shot put, just a foot off the mark. Van-Far’s top finish came in javelin, where Hailey Lowry threw her way into fourth position.

Olivia Kuda of Community had a respectable day in the throwing events.

Community’s Breanna Beamer emerged as the winner when the track turned over to distance runners. She claimed gold in the 800 with a time of 2:43.41, pacing ahead of North Callaway’s Rachael Jeffries, with Sidney Turlington of Mexico in fourth.

Van-Far’s Alayna Bryan ran sixth in the event.

The Trojans’ Victoria DiSalvo and North Callaway’s Makenna Allen put in strong showing in the hurdles. And Community’s Paige Meyer once again matched the school’s high jump mark.

“Since it was a repeat height, I feel confident I can keep doing it,” Meyer said. “My goal is to hit over five feet before districts.”

Mexico’s 4x400 squad of Cora Ransom, Riley Thurman, Sidique and Alexis Smythe ran a bronze-worthy 4:36.