Karen Boehler
CCSR writer/editor
Haley Griffin came from behind to take the title on the final stretch of the 800-meter run. She also won the 100-meter dash, just edging a teammate.
(CCSR photo by Arnold J. Roe)
The temperature on one of the downtown Roswell thermometers read 106 degrees at the end of the New Mexico state Hershey's national track and field youth championships Saturday at the Wool Bowl, but that heat didn’t deter the nearly 200 runners, jumpers and throwers who were competing for a chance to go to the national meet.
With cold water located throughout the complex to keep the young athletes hydrated — and the announcer reminding everyone to make sure to drink a lot — the athletes competed in 42 different events, divided by gender and three age groups: 9-10, 11-12 and 13-14.
Competitors came from across the state, with Las Cruces bringing the biggest group, 42, followed by Rio Rancho with 17 and Roswell’s Enchanted Hills Running Club just shy of that with 15.
The competitors had all finished first through third in local competitions earlier in the month, with the winners in each Saturday event earning a chance to compete in the 2010 North American Final in Hershey, Penn., Aug. 5-8.
Roswell had a number of first-place finishers, led by Joseph Lovato, who took titles in the 13- to 14-year-old 100- and 200-meter dashes and the standing long jump.
The incoming Roswell freshman said he felt “tired and excited,” after the competition, and is hoping to get picked for the second year to go to Hershey.
“I’m excited and just can’t wait,” he said.
The winners won’t know whether they’ll be picked until early next week, after the results from the region’s other states are evaluated. Each state is guaranteed a minimum of five athletes, with each athlete qualifying for one event, no matter how many they won. Lovato competed in the long jump last year, and hopes he’ll get picked for that again.
Rocket freshman Jazmine DeAnda, who took first in the mile, also was excited.
“I feel awesome,” she said. “I was so happy I got first place. But my friend Ealiza (Villanueva), she got second place, like she only missed it by four seconds. It was a close call. Me and her were coming in for a win.”
Coyote freshman Joseph Lovato took titles in three events: the 100- and 200-meter dashes and the long jump. He's hoping to return to Hershey, Penn., to compete in the long jump.
(CCSR photo by Karen Boehler)
She said the two were determined to finish in front.
“We were basically pushing each other to help us win,” DeAnda said. “We just wanted to beat everybody else.”
And she’s going to be waiting on pins and needles until she hears who’s picked for nationals.
Katie Fox was one of three members of the Fox clan who won titles. She took the 11- to 12-year-old girls 800-meter run after finishing fifth in the 400.
“I feel really good about it. I tried my best. I was really tired after the 400 but I still wanted to do it,” she said.
And she’s also anxious to go to Hershey.
“I would love to go. I’ve been wanting to go for two years and I just haven’t gotten picked,” the Berrendo seventh-grader said.
Other Roswell winners included Nicholas Fox in the 13-14 boys 1,600; Nick Fox, 9-10 boys 400; Haley Griffin, 13-14 girls 100 and 800; Aaliyah Hunter, 9-10 girls 200; Ty Villareal, 9-10 boys long jump; Hallie Mann, 9-10 girls softball throw and Kaden Dunlap, 9-10 boys softball throw.
Griffen gave the fans watching the event a big thrill in the 800, as she came from dead last to beat both DeAnda and a Ruidoso runner on the final straightaway.
While the young athletes were all happy with their victories, the coaches were just happy they competed well.
“Now, not all of them finished first, but we had one who ran the 200 three seconds faster than he’s ever run it, so the competition paid off. They did well,” said Enchanted Hills coach Vern Dyer. “They all won a ribbon, and some of them did better than expected.”
While the coaches won’t know who goes to Hershey much sooner than the athletes, Dyer said all three of his 1,600-meter runners should have a chance to qualify because of their times.
He was also pleased with Martinez’ win in the softball throw, and an improved time in the two races he ran.
“We never expected that from him,” Dyer said. “So I was pleased overall. They’re a really good bunch of kids.”
Las Cruces coach Tommy Esparza, who brought 36 members of the Stallions, then picked up six unattached runners, agreed that just learning to love track is the most important part of the event.
“We want them to enjoy running,” he said. “Any kid who would get up at 7:30 to run, jump, throw, put up with my intensity in the most loving of forms, that kid’s a special child.”
And while he’d like to see many of his winners go to Hershey, he knows getting chosen won’t be easy.
“I would hope that number would be big, but being that we’re in a very tough region, if anybody gets to go we’re grateful, because they always bring back experience,” he said, noting one of his throwers went last year. “She did tremendous out there. Gave hope for these kids. The goal is never to get to Hershey, it’s to get better and better each time.”
Rio Rancho brought a team to the state meet for the first time in five years, and coach Michael Weinbrecht was also happy with the outcome.
“For a lot of them it was their first time, so we’re real happy with the way things turned out,” he said. “Roswell obviously did an excellent job putting the event on. ... The expertise and professionalism. We just couldn’t ask for anything more.”
He was also pleased with his squad’s individual finishes.
“They did great,” he said. “We had a lot of first places. A lot of second places. In truth, they did a lot better than I thought they would do. This was their first state-level meet, obviously, so we’re very proud of them.”
Roswell organizer Damian Cheatem was also pleased with how the event ran.
“It was a great event,” he said. “Everything went well and it ran smooth. We were done on time. It was actually a great event.”
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