Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Magdalena vaulters are the very best

Nat Holland El Defensor Chieftain Reporter

NHOLLAND It was the culmination of the track and field season for athletes from Quemado, Alamo and Magdalena when they competed in the Class 1A state track and field championships on Friday and Saturday in Albuquerque.

The Magdalena girls team placed the highest among the area schools and finished ninth with 15 team points.

The Magdalena boys finished 10th with 18 team points.

The Quemado girls scored four points and the boys team scored two points.

The Alamo girls team scored two points.

Magdalena

Junior Lexy Pettis finished as the Class 1A girls pole vault champion with a vault of nine feet and senior KC Armstrong was the boys champion for the second year in a row — this time topping off at 14 feet.

"It's very satisfying," said Armstrong of reaching 14 feet, a goal he set for himself after last year's championship. "I've had fun and I'm pretty excited that it's over."

Armstrong was called over for the 400-meter relay team after his final leap, and a higher vault was not attempted.

"I'm happy," Armstrong said. "I know I probably could have jumped higher."

"It feels pretty good," Pettis said of her win. "I've been saying since the beginning of volleyball season that I was going to win — so it's pretty good that I did."

"She's just a hard worker and KC is a hard worker and it pays off," said pole vault coach Dale Armstrong.

Pettis hopes to come back next year and be the one to break the Class 1A girls record of 10 feet.

"She can do it, too," Dale Armstrong said. "She's got the ability. If she doesn't it's my fault. It takes a lot of technique, a lot of drills, but probably mostly heart though — and she's got plenty of that so she'll be fine."

"You have to have speed, a lot of muscles and a really good coach, so I'm really blessed," Pettis said. "And you have to be a little crazy too."

KC Armstong also did well in sprints. He placed third in the 100-meter dash and sixth in the 200-meter dash. The boys 400-meter and 800-meter relay teams both made it to the podium with sixth place finishes.

"The exciting thing is everyone who came up here, I think, bettered their times. It's been a fun week," Magdalena boys coach Jory Mirabal said. "Nati (Montoya) took close to four seconds off her hurdle time then came in and anchored the medley relay team which took three seconds off their time."

Montoya placed third in the 300-meter hurdles, and the 1600-meter sprint medley relay team finished in fourth place. Daniel Hand also had a new best time and placed third in the 1600-meter run.

Quemado

"The first time trying to compete in the high jump and I actually made it to the podium," said Quemado senior Tim Holocek, who placed sixth in the event. "I should have started earlier."

Holocek was interested in participating in the pole vault, but Quemado was limited by funding. He had to choose between the school buying a pole for his weight class or buy a new high jump bar.

For many of the seniors competing at the state championships, including Holocek, it was the last time they will play in competitive sports.

Holocek plans to attend New Mexico State University toowork on a graphics degree and business management, but will stay active in his hobby of rock climbing.

Quemado junior Cassandra Legaretta finished sixth in the 200-meter dash and fourth in the triple jump.

Junior Thomas Roberts finished sixth in the 110-meter hurdles. Freshman Kalyn Crumbly competed in the pole vault.

Alamo

Juniors Cassie Guerro and Racquel Baca returned to state once again and brought a new face with them, "Big" John Padilla II. Baca was the only Cougar to make it to the podium with her fifth place finish in the 3200-meter run, an event she won two years ago.

Guerro and Padilla both competed in discus and shot put.

nholland@dchieftain.com

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