Lawrence Naranjo has returned, after a three-year absence, to a position he once held for 25 years at Española Valley High School. Naranjo took over the reins of the boys track and field team Feb. 17 after then coach Matthew Abeyta resigned his position Jan. 13, following a dispute with Española athletic director Theresa Flores over the hiring of assistant coaches.
Naranjo, who coaches the boys and girls cross country teams at Española, resigned as track coach in 2007 to concentrate on cross country.
“Back in the saddle again,” Naranjo said March 16 at practice. “I didn’t want the kids to sit and be idle for too long.”
The Sundevils were supposed to begin their season March 20 at the Jemez Valley Invitational, but that meet was cancelled because of the weather. The Sundevils will begin their season Saturday at the Jaguar Invitational hosted by Capital High School in Santa Fe.
Naranjo has about 30 participants out for the boys team, including sophomore C. J. Berryman, who qualified as a freshman for last year’s Class AAAA state track meet in the 400-meter dash. He is the only state-qualifier returning for the boys.
Joining Naranjo’s coaching staff this season is Josh Garcia, one of only two Sundevils in school history to win a first-place medal at the state track and field meet. Garcia was the 2005 state champion in the discus. The other medal was won by Jolen Montoya in 2001 in the 200-meter run.
“Having Josh here to set an example really helps,” Naranjo said.
While Naranjo has taken over the boys program, Daniel Maestas has taken over the girls track and field team. Ironically, Maestas was one of the coaches Abeyta wanted to hire as an assistant and was serving as interim coach for three weeks until being officially hired last week.
“We’re about three weeks behind because of the weather and the coaching situation,” Maestas said. “We’re focusing on district.”
An individual or a relay team can qualify for the state track and field meet by performing up to or better than a state-qualifying standard or by finishing first or second at the district track and field meet.
The Lady Sundevils have never had an individual state champion in track and field. Last season, the girls qualified for state in the 400-meter relay by finishing second to Los Alamos at the District 2AAAA track meet. Marissa Martinez qualified for Española in the 100-meter run, but she has transferred to Pojoaque.
However, the Sundevils picked up a former state qualifier who sat out last season when senior Nisa Duran came back to the track team this year. Duran had qualified for the 2008 state meet in the triple jump She sat outlast season to concentrate on basketball.
“The triple jump is the main reason I came back,” she said.
Española competes in District 2AAAA, where they have to deal with perennial powerhouse Los Alamos. The Hilltoppers and Lady Hilltoppers have won nine consecutive District 2AAAA team track and field championships. Los Alamos is the 2009 Class AAAA girls champion.