It was a high of 92 degrees, but it wasn’t a sweat for St. Michael’s girls

Joey Fernandez is the winnngest coach in Santa Fe and on a Saturday day where temperatures rose to 92 degrees, he added two more when both his girls and boys came away with the 3A state track and field championships.

As the blazing sun hung around from morning to afternoon at the University of New Mexico complex, it was no sweat for his girls as they put together 101.5 points to out distance Cottonwood Classical Prep by 21.5 points, with Santa Fe Prep placing fifth with 47.50.

The Lady Horsemen’s fifth track and field title came away with three winners as junior Jacque Gorman put a cap on her stellar outdoor season by taking the 100-meter hurdles in 17.38, and the triple jump with a best of 33-04.50.

She had qualified for five state events and finished third in both the 300-meter hurdles and the pole vault.

The other St. Michael’s was 8th-grade phenom Raylee Hunt as her versatility brought the 300 hurdles championship in 49.02, plus she added a second place in the 1,600 to go with thirds in the 800 and 3,200, and a fifth in the triple jump.

Said Gorman: “Despite the heat, I thought I had a good day. I had a good season in the 300 hurdles, but Raylee was just better today, and in the pole vault, I did okay.”

Hunt ran into Cottonwood junior Alyx Mastor in all three distance races. She had been undefeated in cross country when Mastor avenged finishing behind her by winning the state XC ahead of runner-up Hunt.

This time, 14-year-old Hunt ran 2:29.40 in the 800, but Mastor timed 2:24.40. In the 1,600, Hunt clocked 5:43.51 behind Mastor’s 5:33.31, and in the 3,200, Mastor finished in 12:06.51, 10 seconds ahead of Hunt. In fact, Hunt hasn’t lost to anyone else but Mastor.

“All three were tough to handle with the high temperatures,” Hunt said, “and every time I came up on her, she just took off like she’s done before, but it was my first time at day and did win the 300 hurdles and place in the triple jump. But it sure was hot today.”

St. Michael’s had depth to fit in with these trio of victories. It added one second place, six thirds, three fourths, and three fifths.

Santa Fe Prep had a pair of winners in state singles tennis champion, junior Isabel Voinescu, who sped the 100 meters in 12:94, and sophomore Lauren McHorse took the javelin with a best heave of 99-11.

The talented Voinescu had also qualified in the triple jump where she was the runner-up, the 200 meters where she was third, and the long jump and javelin.

Freshman Emery Kurth, the daughter of Prep’s athletic director Todd Kurth, had a neat first season in this sport and had qualified for four events, but she settled for fourth in the triple jump, fifth in the 300 hurdles, sixth in the high jump, and sixth in the pole vault.

 “I was hoping to do better,” she said, “but it was still a great experience being here except for such a hot day. I am enjoying myself doing this.”

In the relays, the Griffins’ best race was a third place in the 4 x 800.

As for St. Michael’s, in the relays, it did win the 4 x 100, run second in the 4 x 200 and 4 x 400, fourth in the 4 x 800, and fifth in the sprint medley relay.

The Lady Horsemen picked up a fourth place from freshman Cecilinana Ruiz in the javelin, a fourth from freshman Rebbekah Bagwell in the high jump, and a fourth from senior Milena Keene in the 200 meters. Ruiz also placed fifth in the pole vault, and senior Olivia Farrar a fifth in the long jump.

It was a second state title for St. Michael’s this season after last year’s was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic. This came on the heels of the undefeated girls soccer team winning state.

Members of that squad who also competed in track and field are goalkeeper Keene, Farrar, sophomore Logan Hunt, freshman Jada Lujan, junior Claire Patten, and senior Grace Sandoval.

This time, it was a day with the sun beating down for the third straight day on the Thursday 1A and Friday 2A state championships. And it limited the usual turnouts who turned to coverings provided by the venue. It could occur again when the 4A is run Friday, and the 5A on Saturday.

Despite the heat, the New Mexico Activities Association workers turned in another impressive event, as did the officials. They were all helpful in providing water, assistance, and watering down the athletes.