Fort Stockton’s high school track team has been a dominant force this season following their first area championship campaign in school history in 2022.

Following last week’s Fort Stockton Middle School Comanche Relays, it’s fair to say the high school program has plenty of potential to sustain its success in the years ahead.

Eighth graders Angel Lujan and Kade Castillo won nine of the 10 events they competed in to lead the Panthers to a team title at the Comanche Relays.

Lujan won three individual events (high jump, long jump, 800-meter run) and was a part of two relays (800 relay, 1,600 relay) that finished in first place.

Lujan crossed the finish line in 2 minutes 18.16 seconds in the 800, soared 19 feet in the long jump, and cleared 5 feet 8 inches in the high jump.

Kade Castillo joined Lujan, Robbie Melendez, and Zane Castillo on Fort Stockton’s first-place 1,600 relay squad.

Kade Castillo won the 400 by crossing the finish line in 57.5 seconds.

The eighth grader added a first-place finish in the triple jump (35-8 1/2) and in the 200-meter dash (25.5). Kade Castillo placed fifth in high jump with a 4 feet 10 inch clearance.

The Fort Stockton boy’s eighth grade 800 relay consisted of Ethan Lopez, Zane Castillo, Melendez, and Lujan.

Eighth grader Derik Waight had a gold-medal performance in the 110 hurdles (17.8), capping the team’s first-place finishes.

Runner-up finishes for the Panther eighth graders included Lopez (100), Cody Young (1,600), Ishmael Pando (110 hurdles), 400 relay (Rylee Muniz, Zane Castillo, Melendez, Lopez), Melendez (triple jump), and Ayden Torres (shot put).

The Panther seventh graders also garnered first-place honors as a team, led by Niki Sotelo.

Sotelo had first-place finishes in the 800 (2:34.12), high jump (5 feet), and the 1,600 relay.

The mile relay group featured Jeremiah Gonzalez, Armando Gonzalez, Michael Jon Patino, and Sotelo.

Sotelo added a second-place finish in the triple jump (33-10) and a third-place finish in the 400 (1:03.66).

Roger Cortez won the 2,400 for the seventh grade Panthers in a time of 9:48.6 and added a third-place finish in the mile.

The seventh grader’s 400 relay team claimed gold. The group consisted of Jordan Caballero, Jeremiah Gonzalez, Michael Jon Patino, and Armando Gonzalez.

Second-place finishes for seventh grade Panthers included Jonathan Franco (2,400, 1,600), Daniel De La Rosa (800), 800 Relay (De La Rosa, Jeremiah Gonzalez, Armando Gonzalez, Jon Patino), Caleb Wilson (shot put).

Up next for the middle school track team is the Greenwood Invitational on March 15.