New Mexico Week (Plus) in Review: April 21 - 29

55th Annual Bloomfield Invitational

The San Juan County schools see a lot of one another. Piedra Vista made the big trip to Albuquerque this weekend, but most of the rest of the county's high schools showed up here, plus Miyamura. On the girls' side Aztec gave an old-fashioned clinic in track and field, while Farmington narrowly won the boys title, and that despite the fact that the Scorpions appeared to be giving a light weekend to a few of their top guns.

Picking on a name I haven't mentioned much before, Aztec's Elana Kresl won the 1600 in 5:24.85. That little bit of distance punch isn't such good news for other 4A schools who are trying to figure out a way to outpoint the Tigers. Morgan Smith's pole vault has reached 10-6 before, but the more she gets there, the more you have to feel 11-0 is in view.

Alamogordo Qualifier

As usual, it was a big meet by New Mexico standards down in Alamogordo. 

Do take note of the 2:18.82 800 posted by Britani Gonzalez. With a little state meet adrenaline, that could easily drop below 2:15, and that's getting into some nice territory. Meghan Aguilera gave Malia Gonzales plenty of fight in the 1600 in what may well have offered a little preview of what's coming in the 5A final in that event in a couple of weeks. Clovis's Shelby Jones pitched a monster shot put of 39-1. Jones also dominated the javelin at 127-8. But, in the end, Cleveland found points in a lot more places than anyone else and ran away with the girls team title.

The boys didn't have the burden of dealing with Cleveland. Devin Enslen was up to his usual fireworks in the 100 and 200. Chaparral's Ricky Najera dipped below the magical two-minute mark in the 800. Clovis posted a nifty 3:26 in the 4x400, and Chrisanto Fierro exceeded a total distance of 300 feet in winning the discus and javelin. Mr. Fierro should have a nice state meet ahead of him.

And, while I have you all here, can anyone tell me if FAT timing is in use at the Alamogordo home meets?

Barbara George Relays

Portales is the place. And at least one of the teams came a long way to there. Of course, there's not a whole lot that's close to Portales, as the list of teams would seem to indicate.

Portales took both team titles, but the visitors put up a couple of nice performances, to include an 11.01 100 from Nick Maestas of West Las Vegas and a 2:29.90 800 from teammate Jayme Quintana.

Cimarron Ram Relays

I was happy to see results from this meet, as there were a few teams in attendance for which this meet provided the first results I've seen this season. 

Cimarron dominated both team contests, but several interesting individual outcomes were visited along the way on Monday. Penasco's Darren Rodriguez was faster than everyone else, twice. For good measure, he also won the high jump. Had he won the shot put as well, he may have qualified for the higher, stronger, faster award, but will have to settle for just higher and faster for now.

Questa's Denise Gallegos not only won the javelin, but was also the only one to sling it out beyond 100 feet.

Last Chance in Kayenta

For the New Mexico schools headed out to Kayenta, it wasn't quite the last chance, but it is getting late in the season. 

Individual titles proved difficult to come by for the New Mexico contingent, but Shiprock's Shawvan Levi did win the 1600 in 4:50.40 and there were a few relay titles to be had.

Mark Shumate Invitational

Jason Atencio, Steven Moyer, and Reuben Mulkey battle it out in the Mark Shumate 110 hurdles. Photo by Sandi Noe.

This one almost certainly qualifies as one of the biggest small school meets in New Mexico. And, they got it all done on a six-lane track. 

Qualifying marks were flying off the track, rings, and runways in every direction. We won't try to capture them all, but only say that they were legion.

At the smaller school levels, girls under 60 in the 400 get some notice in a hurry. Micaiah Chock of Hope and Amanda Bishop of East Mountain both accomplished that (and more or less ran away from the field). Bishop came back and won the 800 in dominating fashion at 2:25. Hope apparently has another hurdler to go with Anna Duvall. Maggie Carrico split the hurdle titles with Duvall at this meet. Jazmine Chosa, the freshman out of Jemez Valley, continues to dominate the shot put wherever she goes, winning at this meet by a whopping margin in excess of 10 feet. Socorro's Tayler Hammack added a very nice javelin throw to what was an impressive day of throwing overall.

Henry Sime and Jacob Subratie of Cimarron threated two minutes and came up short, but still gave the Rams a 1-2 finish in the 800. Staying with the theme of distance events, WLV's Moises Coca ran a nice 4:37 to win the 1600, while Hope's Josh Diltz dipped under 10 with a 9:56 in the 3200.

Hope Christian dominated the team scoring on both sides of their home invitational. Surely by now you have them penciled in as a team to reckon with at state.

Richard Harper Invitational

Two days of fun and excitement at Albuquerque Academy. 

In the article linked below, Nick Martinez has already alluded to several state meet previews (both team and individual) that were offered at this meet.

Right now, Mustafa Mudada has the upper hand, but you can't help but look forward to a rematch with Parker Jones at state. Both hurdlers seem to be rounding into peak form when it counts the most. Connor Schmidt's 14-6 in the pole vault looks just a little like a dare for anyone else in 4A to match his height. Piedra Vista's Troy Young knocked off several of the 5A big guys to win the shot put. That makes him a pay-attention-to kind of guy when the throwing starts at the state meet. At 176-7, Cibola's Christopher Garcia moves straight to the top of the 5A leaderboard in the javelin. All very exciting stuff.

For the girls, Zhianna Flores found no peers in Albuquerque. Be sure not to be caught in line at the restrooms or concession stand at state when her events go off. Eldorado's Jessie Hix has made it abudantly clear that she intends to wear the mantle of favorite going into the state 400 and 800. Rachel Fleddermann will wear the same mantle in the 3A 3200. Stephanie Brener gave a 100 hurdles clinic to the field and figures to be the top seed at state in two weeks. And Katie Hegarty in the shot put? Well, I guess that one raises the question of whether PV can sweep the 4A shot put titles. Don't be too inclined to bet against it.