Santa Fe Indian School hosts track and field

Santa Fe Indian School to host its track and field invitational today against the likes of Capital, St. Michael’s, Santa Fe High, and Espanola Valley

Braves’ head coach Joe Calabaza hopeful that the track  is in good running order after the weekend snow storm

By Arnie Leshin 

On Friday afternoon, they ran the District 2-3A track and field championships at Santa Fe Indian School and escaped the worst of the snow storm that fell heavily that night.

Monday afternoon, the Braves will host their annual Santa Fe Indian School Invitational, and they, too, will luck out unless more nasty weather arrives today.

This meet comes the week of the 4-5A championships at Bernalillo Friday afternoon, with the Braves going against the host Spartans, East Mountain, and Albuquerque schools Bosque School and Sandia Prep.

At its own track, it will welcome Capital High, St. Michael’s, Santa Fe High, Las Vegas Robertson, Espanola Valley, Bosque. Meet director Joe Calabaza, the Braves’ head coach, said he also invited West Las Vegas, but hadn’t heard back from the Dons.

The field events are scheduled for a 3 o’clock start, with the running portion to begin at 4.

The 5A Jaguars can use this meet to maybe qualify for state in some events. They have yet to do so, and when they host the 2-5A championships Friday afternoon, chances are slim against the likes of Albuquerque Academy and Los Alamos, two of the best programs in the state.

The same is true for 6A Santa Fe High. There are a few Demons and a few Demonettes that have already qualified, and this is a better chance to add some more before the tough District 2 is run this weekend.

St. Michael’s, in 4A, has qualified a load of qualifiers in the both the girls and boys, and will probably be trying to add some more.

At least Indian School will see what district rival Bosque has, but the best team in that district is East Mountain in both the girls and boys. Bernalillo and Sandia Prep also has some talented athletes.

Calabaza said that senior Michael Tenorio, the state cross country championship, is feeling less pain in his knee cap and will anchor the 1,600 sprint medley relay team on the 800 leg.

“We need a 3:49 to qualify for state,” Calabaza said, “and have come close. With Michael, we have a much better shot. He will also run the 1,600, and at district, he will go in the 800. He has already qualified in the 3,200.”

The knee cap has been a trouble spot for Tenorio as he tries to add another state title. He has been entered in races, but has had to be replaced by meet time.

Braves’ freshman Iris Emery, who had a stellar cross country season, has qualified in the 800, and might run the anchor leg for the 4 x 400 relay, as well as the 1,600 on Monday. The girls have already qualified in the sprint medley relay and are also trying to qualify in the 4 x 400.

Junior Marc Riley is within 3/tenths off the qualifying time for the 110 hurdles and has Monday and the districts to do so. Junior Jordan Moya has qualified for the girl’s shot put.