Academy of Technology and The Classics senior Lilia Noger-Onstott finds herself in five events in this weekend’s state championship

Santa Fe Prep junior Sam Sparks has also qualified in five events, and New Mexico School for the Deaf’s Myra Malone and Deven Thompson in three throwing events for the second straight year

By Arnie Leshin

Hayden Colfax picked up a sixth place as an 8^th grader, a first as a freshman, and now has a chance to perhaps win all four of her individual events when 

the weekend 1A-3A state track and field championships are run at the University of New Mexico.

The Santa Fe Prep sophomore has qualified for these events before, but was never as high as she stands now. She has the best high jump of 5-2, the top triple jump at 36-11, second-best in the 100 hurdles, and also in the 300 hurdles.

Not to count the legs she will race on the Griffin relay teams. They’ve qualified in all four and Colfax might be in two of them. 

The Prep boys can boast of junior Sam Sparks. He’s lined up in the 200, the 400, high jump, long jump, and triple jump. Right behind is senior teammate Sean Coles, who has qualified in the three jumps. 

Griffin Taylor Lincoln will also compete in three events, the 100 meters, the 200, and the 400. Her best chance might be in the century. 

But Academy of Technology and The Classics senior Lilia Noger-Onstott has accomplished what Sparks has done. She’s also qualified in five events, the pole vault, the triple jump, the long jump, the high jump, and takes a break from the field events to race the 400. Her best shot could be in the pole vault, where she has the 3^rd best clearing.

Some will go in two events, two of whom are ATC sophomore Ahbedoh Whiteeagle in the 100 and 200 meters, and Desert Academy junior Jakob Kaare-Rasmussen in the 400 and 800, where he has the fourth fastest time in both. And Whiteeagle has the fourth fastest in his sprints.

ATC sophomore Cole Ferguson joins his freshman sister, Kate, both qualifying for the hurdles. 

The Prep girls are chasing their fourth state title, the last coming in 2013. ATC should also be a threat to score. The Griffin boys will probably land among the top 10, maybe even the first five.

In 1A, New Mexico School for the Deaf has 6-foot-6 junior Deven Thompson in defense of the shot put title, and also in the discus and javelin. 

The Road runner girls will again have Myra Malone throwing the discus, the shot put and the javelin. 

The NMSD boys have also qualified in the 4 x 100 and 4 x 200 relays. And their teammate, Julio Portillo, will throw the shot put and javelin.