It’s not a question if Socorro’s Braden Mounyo will qualify for the state track and field meet, but how many events the junior will nail down between now and then.

At Socorro’s Zimmerly Relays last week, Mounyo racked up first-place wins in the 110 and 200-meter hurdles and the pole vault, was second in the triple jump and fourth in the 200-meter dash.

Junior Braden Mounyo has already qualified for the New Mexico state track and field meet in four events and the 2023 season is only at the midpoint.
Russell Huffman | El Defensor Chieftain

Mounyo has also come up big on the field for the Warriors’ soccer team, but when it comes to taking his athletic skills to the next level, he is leaning toward a college career in track and field.

“Track and field is a lot more fun because the sport is very competitive. It’s more head-to-head and one-on-one while being part of a team,” Mounyo said. “I would like to get a scholarship to an out-of-state college.”

Math is an interest of Mounyo’s, who admits he has yet to start to focus on what he would like to study, but Colorado is one of the places he hopes it happens.

Coaches Cody Lee and Charles Zimmerly have worked with Mounyo to help get his times down and lured him into trying different events. Whatever the event, Mounyo always seems to excel.

Socorro’s track and field athletes are always encouraged to help each other, and Mounyo credits 2022 graduate Gavin Spitz’s encouragement as part of his success.

“He helped me a lot with getting my time down. He’s like one of my main inspirations to do better. He told me to focus on one thing at a time. Don’t try to multitask,” Mounyo said.

That’s ironic, given Mounyo has four state qualifications, and the season is only at the midpoint for qualifications. While he may be track “multitasking,” Mounyo is also staying within himself and focusing on what needs to happen in each of the events he takes part in – like the hurdles.

“Just get down to the blocks. Just keep my rhythm down. For the hurdles, I want to keep my rhythm like three steps in between the hurdles and then jump and keep my body compact,” Mounyo said. “I’m just trying to think about the race and nothing else.”

Mounyo has been taking part in track and field since seventh grade. Covid interrupted his introduction to the hurdle events, but he has quickly made up for the lost time.

At the Lincoln County Invitational in Ruidoso to start the season, Mounyo ran a 15.94 in the 110-meter hurdles and dipped that down to 15.62 at the Zimmerly Relays. He also posted a season-best of 41.41 in the 300-meters hurdles in Ruidoso.

“I just try to concentrate on one thing at a time until I finish. I’m done with that event now. I’ll go to the next thing and try to improve there,” Mounyo said. “I want to play my role on the team in trying to get the most points for the team — especially for district and state to get the most points to get us on the podium as a team.”

Being coachable is one of Mounyo’s most significant attributes.

“He works hard, listens to what he is being told, and is not afraid to try new things,” Socorro coach Cody Lee said.

Russell Huffman | Assistant Editor