Incoming freshman Varela a bright young star

Inspired by Ayanniyi’s example, new Demonette to compete in national championship

Riannah Varela couldn’t pick a better model to follow than Akeisha Ayanniyi.

Varela, a freshman-to-be at Santa Fe High, saw Ayanniyi up close and personal for the final week of the track and field season. Varela practiced with the Demons in preparation for the District 1-6 meet in May and got a taste of what she aspires to be by the time she’s a senior. Ayanniyi set a state record in the long jump in May and will compete for The University of New Mexico as a jumper and sprinter.

“She was jumping way farther than anyone else,” Varela said. “I want to be in the same league as her.”

After an impressive showing in which she took third place in the triple jump and sixth in the long jump, Varela continued her work in the offseason, and it is working out. Varela took fourth place in the long jump and first in the triple in the 13-14 age group at the USA Track and Field Region 10 Championships in Albuquerque from July 7-10, which qualified her for the national championships in Sacramento, Calif. The Region 10 meet pitted Varela and eight of her Santa Fe Elite teammates against teams from Colorado, Arizona and West Texas in a variety of age groups.

The event began Monday, but Varela will not compete until Thursday. She won the triple jump with a distance of 35 feet, while her 15-6 leap in the long jump competing for the Santa Fe Elite track and field club, which also earned her a spot in the national championships. Varela also reached the regionals in the 100 and 200 meters and said she likely will compete in sprint events at Santa Fe High.

As impressive as her performance has been over the summer, Varela admits she still has a ways to go.

“Every night, I work by myself practicing,” Varela said. “I don’t have a jump coach, so I am doing it by myself. I do some jumping exercises that I looked up [online], and steps and workouts. I think I will be a lot better once I have a coach.”

What her coach will find is a talented athlete capable of playing multiple sports. Varela will play for the girls basketball program and possibly girls soccer (she hasn’t decided yet) along with track. She also is a black belt in karate, and dad Dale Varela says she won several national awards for her work in that discipline.

“By the time she was nine or 10, she won the world championships in weapons,” Dale Varela said.

The Varelas leave for Sacramento on Wednesday, and Dale Varela said they will explore the town during the five days they are there.

“We’ve pretty much never been there, so we’re not sure what we’ll see at this point,” Dale Varela said.