Mike Budick was dealt setbacks in the discus and javelin but retained his iron grip on the shot put. File photo by Blake Wood.
The 2014 edition of the Albuquerque Public Schools Metro Championship is the premier chance for the ABQ schools to square off and clash before the classifications break down and compete at the state championships. It’s a true showcase of metro dominance, where smaller school stars can outshine the mightiest large school competitors. It is also the chance for specialists to compare themselves against all-around stars dabbling in an off event, all in an effort to determine if their teams can squeeze extra points to help their team battles. Thursday’s events featured a small number of finals and plenty of prelims, while Friday served as the main day for finals. As always, the championship season marks the final phase of competition where everyone begins to play for keeps, and the last chance for competitors to morph from pretenders to contenders.