‘GIVE IT ALL YOU’VE GOT’
Blue Griffins work hard to get on the podium
Climbing atop the podium early Saturday evening is something Santa Fe Prep track and field coach Tove Shere is hoping lies in store for her Blue Griffins.
“I think we always go in with that hope and possibility,” she said. “But many things have to go right in order for that to happen. We have some depth and we’re really good, both on the boys and girls teams.”
Whether that’s going to be good enough, of course, is something to be determined when the Class A-3A state meet gets underway today at the University of New Mexico Track & Soccer Complex.
“We are looking pretty strong this year,” Shere said. “But I don’t usually carry a lot of expectations.”
If there are any expectations, it lies with senior sprinter Patrick Boyd on the boys side and freshman leaper Hayden Colfax for the girls.
Both qualified in four individual events and will also run a to-bedetermined relay.
“We have some incredible athletes this year,” Shere said. “If we can get both our track events and our field events to the podiums and get some points out of them, then we have a shot at getting there.”
For Boyd, who is still seeking his first individual gold medal, this is a comeback trail as he did not compete last year while studying at an out-of-state school in an exchange program.
“It would be an honor,” he said of the chance to bring home an individual state medal. “It would mean that all the hard work that has gone into the season would pay off. That would be the coolest thing. It’s something I’ve always wanted. If it happens, I’m going to be super stoked. But I have to work to get there. There’s a lot of good competitors.”
Boyd is seeded second in the 100-meter dash behind Sean Delica from the Academy of Technology and the Classics, first in the 200 and 400, and tied for first in the high jump.
“My expectations are always to go as hard as I can,” he said. “I don’t want to put anything on me because that’s too much pressure. You’ve just got to give it all you’ve got. This is my last chance and probably the last time I’ll run a track meet, so I’m just trying to keep a really strong mental game.”
Colfax is also just trying to concentrate on her own results while doing her best to help the team succeed.
“I just really want to do my best and try to PR (personal record) as much as I can,” she said. “I’m not focused on other people right now. I just want to do my best. And I’m super excited as a team. I think the girls have a great chance this year. We have a great team this year.”
Colfax is seeded fifth in the 100 hurdles, with teammate Leyla Sharples right behind her, fifth in the 300 hurdles, and in the middle of pack in both the triple and high jumps.
Now she’s hoping to build on her performance as an eighth-grader.
“It was a great experience,” Colfax said of competing at state last year. “I learned a lot. The whole track experience is really helping me.”
When it comes to team results, Shere said Pecos, Cottonwood Classical, Estancia and Lordsburg should be among the top contenders, with the Panthers holding the potential to stand atop the podium when it’s all said and done.
On the girls side, ATC and Cottonwood Classical are also both strong squads.
Numerous other local athletes across the three classes are seeded highly:
In 3A boys, ATC’s Ahbedoh Whiteeagle seeded second in the 100; Julian Garcia of Pecos seeded second in the 3,200 and first in the 1,600, with teammates Josh DeHerrera, Isaiah Armijo and Angel Varela sitting third through fifth; Santa Fe Prep first in the 4x200 relay; Pecos first in the medley relay; Jayson Bustos of McCurdy second in the 800; and Sam Sparks, Santa Fe Prep, tied for first in high jump and second in the triple jump. In girls, Santa Fe Prep second in the medley relay; and Elizabeth Whiting of Santa Fe Prep first in the 800.
In 2A boys, Frankie Oritz of Mesa Vista first in the 200; David Trujillo of Questa second in javelin. In girls, Abrianna Griego of Mesa Vista second in the 200 and 400; Natalia Martinez of Mora first in the 1,600; Tori Salzar of Escalante second in the shot put; and Questa second in the 4x100 relay.
In 1A boys, Deven Thompson of New Mexico School for the Deaf first in discus and second in shot put; Dominc Ickes, Cimarron, second in discus and tied for first in javelin. In girls, Jesslyn Selph, Cimarron, first in 100 hurdles; Cimarron second in 4x100 relay; and Angel Gonzales of Cimarron second in pole vault.