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With Santa Fe freshman Hayden Colfax winning the 100 hurdles and medaling in her other three events, and senior Elizabeth Whiting first in the 800, it was a good day for the runner-up Griffins
Prep also won the 1,600 sprint medley relay with Whiting running anchor at Saturday’s conclusion of the A-3A track and field championships held at UNM
By Arnie Leshin
Qualifying in five events as an 8th grader last year was certainly a challenge for Hayden Colfax. She was no doubt disappointed when she reached the podium only once.
But the experience certainly carried over to this weekend’s A-3A state track and field championships at the University of New Mexico. The Santa Fe Prep freshman came well prepared this time.
Now qualifying in four events, she had no problem stepping onto the podium. She won her first state title in the 110 hurdles, finished second in the high jump and triple jump, and ran fourth in the 300 intermediate hurdles.
“What a difference,” she said. “I just showed up last year and it was a different atmosphere. It was for me a learning experience.”
Now she had reasons to celebrate and serve notice that there’s no telling on how many states she wins by her senior year. Now she’s right in the mix, one of the state’s most versatile athletes. And she was easy to spot with her almost knee-high pink socks.
Then there Prep senior Elizabeth Whiting. She came into the 800 with the best qualifying time and didn’t disappoint. She immediately went to the lead and never let up, topping the field in a personal-best 2:24.75.
“I was more determined this time,” said the Dartmouth-bound Whiting. “Before this, I loved to trail the others, now I was confident of having them finishing behind me. I’ve only been running since my sophomore year and
I’ve just kept learning. Now I get to stand on the top step of the podium and I’m overjoyed.”
Whiting also ran the 800 anchor leg as the Griffins handily won the 1,600 sprint medley relay in 4:30.35. She got the baton in the lead and just increased it. The other legs were senior Liza Doyle, sophomore Selma Flint, and junior Teslin Ishee.
In the 4 x 400, Prep finished third in 4:16.30. In the team scoring, it totaled 54 points to place second behind Eunice, which scored 63.50. Twelve was Desert Academy with 12 points, Academy of Technology and The Classics was next with 12, and 16th place Pecos had six.
Wildcats’ senior Lia Kane improved on her fifth-place finish in Friday’s 1,600 by taking the runner-up spot in the 3,200. She grabbed the lead on the final lap, but was passed on the final turn and clocked 12:39.37.
“I just didn’t have enough left,” she said, “but this was my best finish at state so I’m happy about that.”
In the sprints, Griffins’ senior Annika Birk took fourth in the 100 meters and sixth in the 200, but she wasn’t disappointed after dashing 13.08 in the century and 27.61 in the 200. She will continue her education and run sprints at Division III Cornell College in Iowa.
“It was a good feeling out there,” she said. “My final state meet and I get to the podium twice.”
Colfax led fellow freshmen teammate Leyla Sharples to the podium twice in her first time at state. In the 100 hurdles, Sharples placed fourth in 17.3. In the 300 intermediate hurdles, she came in fifth in 48.85.
As for Colfax, she was, like last year, busy, busy, busy, but more composed.
After the 100 hurdles where she timed 16.48, she rushed to the high jump, but found she had enough time to make the podium. In the 300 hurdles, she turned in a fourth-place time of 48.67. In the high jump, she went over at 5-2 to place second, and in the triple jump it was another runner-up finish as she soared 33-11.
“I felt great in the (100) hurdles,” Colfax said. “My first state championship is a great feeling, and this is quite a difference from last year here.”
Fourth in the triple jump was ATC junior Lilia Noger-Onstott at 33-08.25, while Desert Academy junior Bea Lowe was fourth in the long jump by soaring 16-0, and Noger-Onstott fifth at 15-10. In the high jump, Wildcats’ freshman Michaela Glinsky took fifth at 5-feet.
