Photo by Jaren Brooks
Watch 2021 NMAA State A,2A,3A State Track and Field Championships Here
Watch 2021 NMAA State 4A, 5A Track and Field Championships Here
As we arrive at the eve of the 2021 NMAA A State Track and Field Championships, we look at some of the best matchups to see tomorrow. This will include a pair of sister duos, 8th, and 9th-grade newcomers, defending champions, and those multi-talented athletes of class 2A that seem to do it all and then some for their team.
Related:
NM 2A Boys Athletes to Watch I NM 2A Girls Athletes to Watch I 2021 NMAA 2A State Track and Field Championships Hub
Girls 400m
We got the sisters of Gateway Christian going at it for the 2A girls 400m title, Anna Huizinga and Audrey Huizinga both the top marks in the field with times of 1:01's to their credit this season. Be on the lookout for sub-60-second performances from them in this championship setting.
Santa Rosa Boys Sprints
The Lions will have three boys in the 100m with Jeremiah Huerta, Elijah Velasquez, Jordan Aragon, and the top 400m sprinter among 2A this season with Ricardo Chavez at 53.24. This should make for a fast 4x100m squad as well as possibly a surprise in the 4x200m.
1600m/3200m trio of Kee, Valdez and Preslar
Boys distance events will see Navajo Pine's Ryan Kee Penasco's Gilbert Valdez and Cloudcroft's Max Preslar will push it to the limit against one another, in a matchup that will be carried over to the cross country season this fall.
Girls Distance Events
Anna Huizinga will go up against a couple of squads in Pecos and ATC that fill up the top of these heat sheets among distance events. Pecos' Kianna Quintana, Mistidawn Roybal, and Alexis Gonzales just behind Josette Gurule in the 800m while ATC stacks the 1600m with Lily Rittmeyer, Kamryn Hoehne, and Maiah Trujillo. We are in for a show with this young lady's take to the track.
Pecos vs ATC
We are only a few months shy of the state cross country championships that had rival Pecos and Academy for Tech and the Classics once again going at it for a trophy. Now we get to see how a lengthy relay will fare for two teams that are among the top 8 of all classification 4x800m times. This will arguably be one of the first competitive 4x800m relays we've gotten to see this season and with all the glory at stake.
Any event with Ajia Hughes
The Cloudcroft senior will be aiming for five medals to wrap around her neck at the end of the day with double hurdles duty and then a possible sweep of the jumps unless her competition says otherwise. Hughes already holds the triple jump state record (38-11) set back in 2019.
Girls Pole Vault
Jal's Alexys Peugh and Kyah Gilliam both have cleared 9ft this season and could encourage one another to some new personal bests.
Relays! Relays! Relays!
How about some championship relay action that for the first time all season will be able to see more than three or four relay teams competing at once. Expect an exciting atmosphere and even an interesting first time ever seeing the 4x800m being contested for some hardware at the state meet.
Other notes:
Kaylee Hickman, the two-time state champion in javelin returns once more for another stint.