It’s been quite some time since the Mesa Vista boys were able to stake a claim as district track and field champions.
So long, in fact, that coach Ben Sandoval Jr., was a freshman on that 2009 team and his dad, Ben Sandoval Sr., was the head coach.
But the result of that effort is the Trojans will be loaded for the Class 2A New Mexico meet Friday and Saturday at The University of New Mexico Track and Soccer Complex.
“The last time we qualified in this many was in 2009,” Sandoval Jr. said. “That year, we had eight to 10 qualified. This year, we have 11 qualified. The expectations were high and I set my expectations high and they came through beautifully.”
Of course, qualifying for state by finishing first or second in district is quite a bit different than achieving an automatic qualifying time, height or distance.
In that category, the Trojans’ 4×800-meter relay team of Jordan Gallegos, Santiago Martinez, Ezequiel Nevarez and Jonathan Martinez have a real shot of not only standing atop the podium, but perhaps even setting a state record.
“We have the fastest time in the state so far,” Sandoval Jr. said. “We’ve run under the state record twice this year. We’ve been under it by 10-12 seconds consistently. It looks like it’s going to come down to the wire between us and Peñasco and the winner and maybe even both of us will set a state record.”
The medley relay with Andres Valdez, Santiago Martinez, Nevarez and Jonathan Martinez should be in three-way competition for gold with Tucumcari and NACA.
“The 800 in that one is really going to be a good,” Sandoval Jr. said. “That should be a good race.”
The coach had high hopes coming in for Nevarez in the 1,600 run, but the competition is exceptionally stiff. Nevarez is an automatic qualifier in the 3,200 run and has a very good chance of medaling in it.
“In the 2A mile, there are 18 guys under five minutes,” Sandoval Jr. said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen those kind of numbers. Zeke is going to have to have a school record on the podium in that race, but I think he has a good shot.”
Other qualifiers include: 100, Valdez; 300 hurdles, Valdez and Santiago Martinez 4×200 relay; long jump, Valdez; triple jump, Jonathan Martinez; javelin, Gallegos and shotput, Salvador Saelvedra.
Mesa Vista girls qualifiers include: 200, Hannah Lopez; 100 hurdles, Lopez; 300 hurdles, Lopez; medley relay, high jump, Lopez; discus, Amarissa Archuleta; javelin, Jaslene Torres; shotput, Archuleta.
Other 2A qualifiers:
McCurdy boys, 100, Jeremaya Roybal; 200, Roybal; 800, Justin Knight; 1600, Knight; 3,200, Knight; 4×100 relay; 4×200 relay; medley relay. Girls, 800, Avery Knight; 1,600, Marisol Serna and Knight; 3,200, Serna; 4×200 relay; 4×800 relay; medley relay, shotput, Mariana Arambula.
Escalante boys: 400, Julio Lujan; 4×400 relay; high jump, Tristan Ulibarri and Richard Glover; discus, Jeremiah Martinez. Girls, 100, Mesa Glover; 400, Glover; 100 hurdles, Ashley Gilmore; 300 hurdles, Gilmore; 4×400 relay.
Class 1A qualifiers
Dulce boys: 400, Jaren Johnson; 3,200, Kash Trosper; 110 hurdles, Johnson; medley relay, long jump, Johnson; triple jump, Johnson.
Girls: 100, Amari Castleberry; 4×100 relay; 4×400 relay; medley relay; 4×800 relay.
Coronado boys: 800, Lonisio Ethan Vialpando; 110 hurdles, Eli Martinez; 4×100 relay, high jump, Martinez; long jump, Vialpando; discus, Mateo Velasquez; javelin, Velasquez and Martinez; shotput, Vialpando and Velasquez.