NM athletes planning to watch and learn
Some of the nation’s best set to compete today
The Great Southwest Track and Field Classic is many things to many people.
For some of the New Mexicans in the field, it is somewhat of a tutorial.
Take Zach Marshall of Hobbs, for example. Three weeks ago, the Eagles senior cleared an even 7 feet to tie a big-school state record in the high jump.
Today, as the 42nd Great Southwest concludes with nearly all its running finals and field finals, Marshall — at much less than 100 percent this week, due to the effects of a fever and sore hamstring — will be keenly observing his rivals today during his event, which begins at 4:30 p.m.
“That’s exactly what I told my parents on the way up here,” Marshall said. “It’ll be really fun to watch. It’ll help me learn.”
Marshall, and most of the athletes in the high jump, today will be focused on Vernon Turner of Yukon, Okla.
Turner is Oklahoma’s high jump champion — a three-time state champion, actually — although that scarcely scratches the surface.
Turner’s career best jump is 7-6, which is not only the top mark in the country this year for a high school athlete but also the best outdoor mark in the world for a U20 athlete in 2017. The future Oklahoma Sooner, who is rated No. 1 in the U.S. in this event, jumped 7-6 at his home meet in Yukon in mid-April.
“That’s crazy,” said Marshall, who has cleared 7 feet twice already this spring at the University of New Mexico complex, where the Great Southwest finishes today with athletes from about two dozen states.
“That’s definitely a goal I’d like to meet,” Marshall said.
The 6-foot-2 Turner qualified for the Olympic Trials in Oregon last summer, and has his sights set on competing at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
To that end, his 7-6 mark in April was the same winning jump posted at the Olympic Trials last summer by Erik Kynard.
“I think I’ll win (today),” Turner said, “but I’m excited to watch other people go over 7 feet.”
Turner chose OU over 35 other offers. He certainly rates as one of the highestprofile athletes who will be on display today at UNM, where field event finals start at 10:30 a.m. and the running finals begin at 1 p.m.
Turner wasn’t planning on becoming a jumper. He was into basketball. But he was, shall we say, persuaded.
“Coach (Kevin) Ritter (Yukon’s track coach) told me we couldn’t be friends unless I came out to at least try it,” Turner said with a smile.
Cleveland long jumper Caitlin Barnard is a bit like Marshall. She was a premier long jumper this season, but today she’ll get to watch one of the nation’s best in Vanderbilt-bound Sophia Falco from Bradenton, Fla. Falco is a state champion in both the triple jump and the long jump (where her personal best is 19 feet, 8 inches, nearly a foot better than Barnard’s PR).
“It’s definitely an eye opener,” said Barnard. “It keeps you on your toes. It’s good to learn from them.”
Some of the state’s best athletes will be in action today, although many are skipping this meet. Albuquerque Academy thrower Jackson Morris (Colorado State) is here for the third straight June.
“I never thought in middle school I would be a crazy thrower guy,” he said. Morris won nine throwing state titles in his final three years with the Chargers, but is only doing the discus and shot put today.
FRIDAY: Nevada’s Jonathan Ply won the boys decathlon (which began on Thursday) with 6,594 points. … Another Nevadan, Quincy Bonds, won the girls’ decathlon (5,043 points). … Her sister, Talie Bonds, was the heptathlon champion, with St. Pius’ Haley Rizek finishing second, 103 points behind.
TICKETS: Today’s long session, which will stretch until after 9:30 p.m., costs $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors over 55. Children under 12 are free.