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The Hayden High School track team leapt to a quick start in its season Saturday at the Delta Invitational - and not just on the strength of one or two competitors.

Sure, first-place performances by Holli Salazar in the shot put and the dominating girls 800-meter relay helped the girls team to an overall fourth-place finish.

But it was the team's depth that had Hayden coach Barbara Manzanares excited.

"It was a really good meet," Manzanares said. "We didn't have a whole lot of first-place finishes, but anywhere from eighth place on up they were at least in there and bringing in some points for the team."

The girls scored points in 11 of the 18 events and finished ahead of 13 other teams, including many larger schools from around the state.

The boys were ninth, hauling home points in six different events.

Salazar led the team with her first-place shot put, a hurl that flew to within two inches of the school record.

"I look for her to break that record this year if she keeps going the way she is right now," Manzanares said.

Salazar also scored in the discus, finishing fifth.

Manzanres said the high finishes were even more impressive considering how young many of her athletes are.

Freshman Delanie Vedepo scored in every event she competed in, finishing sixth in the mile, fifth in triple jump and running on two scoring relays.

"I was really proud of her," Manzanres said.

The boys team was held back by poor handoffs in several relays.

With better results from those events, Manzanres said the squad's finish might have been even higher.

"Now we know what we have to work on," she said. "I'm pretty sure we would have gotten points there without the mistakes."

The team returns to action next weekend when it travels for the Hotchkiss Invitational. It will compete with a squad missing several athletes because of spring break.

"We'll still go down and do our best," Manzanares said.