That's more like it.

Two of Arizona's more notable track athletes found some footing in Arizona at the Arcadia Invitational last weekend.

Brophy College Prep (Phoenix) senior hurdler Devon Allen and Cibola (Yuma) distance runner Bernie Montoya haven't had the senior years they were exactly hoping for thus far but possibly made up for it in Saturday's elite portion of Arcadia event, which is considered one of the premier events on the West Coast.

Montoya, who is committed to Arizona State, finished second in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 8 minutes and 47.064 seconds, a personal best, behind Park City's Ben Saarel, who won in 8:45.74.

It's a step forward after really struggling at the Chandler Rotary on March 23 in the 1,600 when he finished fifth in 4:18.53.
Montoya was visibly upset after the Rotary performance and he didn't compete in the 3,200.

It was the first time in his career Montoya reached deep for something extra and his body didn't respond. If he was a baseball pitcher and coming off a bad outing, it would be explained as a dead arm period. Montoya was definitely surprised by the pace that was nearly eight seconds off his best time as a junior.

"I have no excuses; I don't like to make excuses," Montoya said after the performance at the Rotary. "We got a long season and we want to be careful. I did what I could.

"You have to have your eyes open to reality. You are not invincible. I've never really felt like this since I started running. It depends on how you handle a loss and move on. The performances will come."

After Arcadia, Montoya can start to feel good about himself again.

Allen sustaining an ankle injury in football that kept him out of the track until Chandler Rotary when he competed in relays. He returned to the hurdles in Arcadia and nearly matched last year's blistering times.

"I never gave it a chance to heal and then hurt it again (in a football) all-star game," the Oregon football and track recruit said at the Rotary. "It turned a two-month injury into a fourth month. It is kind of frustrating seeing all of the races I should be running."

He finally got that chance in Arcadia and didn't disappoint as he clocked a 13.78 to win the 110 hurdles and a 37.85 in the 300 hurdles to finish second.

Other top performers over the weekend included Desert Vista (Phoenix) thrower Dylan Fischer, who sets school records in the discus and shot put. The Navy football recruit finished second in the shot at Arcadia with 61 feet and 2 inches and third in discus at 182-07.

Chandler junior phenom Ky Westbrook won the 100 with a time of 11.50 and was third in the 200 at the 23.87.

Back in Arizona at the Sun Devil Classic, Mountain Pointe (Phoenix) sophomore Paul Lucas set two records in the 200 in 20.99 and the 400 in 47.75 to win both events.

Jason P. Skoda, a former Arizona Republic and current Ahwatukee Foothills News staff writer, is an 18-year sports writing veteran. Contact him at jskoda1024@aol.com or 480-272-2449.