Athletes from Turlock Junior High and Dutcher Middle School took part in the 2012 Jr. Relays County Meet at Modesto Junior College on Saturday and finished the day with a number of first place finishers and a couple of record breakers to boot.

TJHS’ Cerah Moren set new county records for 7th grade girls in both the 70 yard hurdles, with a time of 10.39 seconds, and the discus, with a throw of 91 feet, 4 inches. The 70 yard hurdle record was previously set by Pitman High’s Kelsey Derr.

“She had broke the school record earlier in the year for hurdles so we were hoping she could do it on Saturday,” TJHS’ assistant coach Jim Hollister said. “It’s rare that you see someone set a record in hurdles and discus.”

Moren, Christan Carlson, Madi Todd, and Tatiana Reinoso finished first in the 400m relay and as well as the 1600m relay where Jessica Bettencourt stepped in for Carlson. Todd also took first in the 100m.

The day’s other record breaking performance came from Dutcher’s 8th grade girls in the 1600m relay. The team of Mikayla Mabie, Emily Romo, Cassie Derdivanis, and Kiana Clay recorded a record time of 4:24.44.  Clay also took first in the 400m and Mabie placed first in the triple jump.

Michael Ulloa finished first in the 800m and Isaiah Marable took first in the triple jump for TJHS’ 7th grade boys as Cyrus Elia took first in the 70 yard hurdles and David Marruffo took first in the triple jump for the 8th grade boys.

As for Dutcher, 7th grader Zach Kutaw took first in the 100m and 8th grader Adrian Rodriguez placed first in the 400m.

“They’ve all improved so much this year,” Hollister said. “Whether or not the 8th graders run in high school is out of my control, but I’d like to see them out there.”