If you're needing a reason to show up in Albuquerque for the 1A/2A state championships in early May, look no further than 2A boys. This one promises to get exciting.
Based off results collected from last year, the preseason look at the state title race appears to be a dead heat between Lordsburg, Texico, Santa Fe Prep, and Eunice.
Santa Fe Prep may have to best ability to spread out the load among several athletes, and that could become very important by the end of the season. It may also mean they can cobble together a little more relay strength than other teams with thinner rosters. Sprinter/jumper Kevin Lowe figures as the top threat for Santa Fe Prep, but there are plenty more who can put up points at the state meet.
Lordsburg's hopes may rise and fall on the strength of sprinter Wendell Hayes (11.14 and 22.79 at the state meet, both wind legal) and hurdler/vaulter Kenny Evans. If the Mavericks can put together a couple of very competitive sprint relays, they may be very difficult to overcome once again this year.
Texico appears positioned to ride the shoulders of thrower Dathan McWhorter. At 140 and 49, McWhorter won both the discus and shot put titles last spring. Texico also won last spring's state 1600 sprint medley relay, aided by a nice finishing leg by Colton Hollis, but they'll probably need to find a way to augment their point total from relays to make a credible run for a state title this spring.
Eunice's hopes start with 400 meter runner and jumps specialist Junior Caraza. Junior is a senior this year and will be looking to defend his state titles in the high jump (6-4) and triple jump (43-10.25). Right now, there doesn't appear to be a lot of obstacles in his way, but both the high and the triple can be fickle events. Caraza will also be defending a state title in the 400. He should be a busy fellow at the state meet once again this year. With some added strength in the supporting cast, it would seem Eunice could challenge for the state title.
Pecos and Laguna Acoma also have some reason to be hopeful about this spring, but appear--for the moment--to be trailing the big four already cited.
2011 NM HS M Outdoor Track Team Scores (Returners Only)
Calculated as of February 23, 2012
These rankings were calculated by scoring the rankings as a meet. We took the individual rankings and scored them as a normal meet: 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1.
Athletes whose graduation years are unknown were left out of the list.