The Sierra boys and Doherty girls won the season-opening District 11 relays track and field meet Saturday at Garry Berry Stadium.

Coaches were able to take a look at their teams and get a feeling about what the season holds for them.

“I think most of the meets before Spring Break, most of us just want to see what we got,” said Woodland Park coach Ron Payton.  “I think we did really well and we have a strong program.”

Payton said he wasn’t taking the relays too seriously and that he is looking ahead. His girls finished fourth and the boys finished seventh. Sierra won with 89 points while the Doherty girls had 78.

Doherty’s Carly Allen and Alex Wendt felt good about their team’s outlook and were relaxed throughout the day.

“Yeah, it’s not too serious,” Allen who helped the 1,600 meter relay win. “I think we’ll have to see how practices go and then we’ll see what we can do.”

Things were also loose for Liberty’s girls distance medley team after a win.

“It’s hard to carry that baton for a mile,” joked Kaylen Slack after her second mile race of the day. “I like relays. I think our teams are going to do really well and our coach is good. We didn’t have a track last season because it had been under construction, so we are already really excited about the season.”

Other coaches and athletes were more serious about how they competed and felt that it could help determine how their season would develop.

“We’re pretty serious about it, but we’re also really excited about the season,” said Falcon coach Mary Ann Wilson. “They really wanted to come out and make a statement. Our kids showed that they have great attitudes and a great work ethic.”

The Falcon boys placed third overall with 59 points including a win in the shuttle hurdle and thirds in the 800 and 1,600 relays.

Sierra senior Mark Sterling was also feeling good about what his team had accomplished at the District 11 relays and confident about making a state title run.

“It felt good to get a win, we’ve been coming in second all day,” said Sterling after running the anchor leg of the 1,600 relay. “Everybody’s getting back into their grove. We’re going for it all at state.”

Sterling said that the Stallions are still looking for some of their basketball players to come back to add needed depth.

The Sears’ Tower and the Chicago skyline in 2006. Photo by (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS