STATE 5A TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Saturday is the finale for Rio Rancho Cleveland recent graduate Chris Humetewa, who ran for Santa Fe Indian School for three years, but transferred to Cleveland, his district school, when Indian School cancelled its program in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.

It will be the fourth state meet for Humetewa, who finished second once and third twice in the state 3A cross country championships. Now he upgrades to 5A where he helped lead the Storm to the state XC title, and is expected to run the 1,600 and 3,200.

“I’m looking to do good Saturday,” said Humetewa, who graduated on June 4th and could be furthering his education with a free ride to NAIA Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kan., which is on the University of Kansas campus. “And then I’m going to run in college.”

In the 1,600, his best time this season has been 4:40.44, which is listed as the 7th best qualifying time, and in the 3,200, he has a best of 10:31.34, and that’s the fourth fastest.

His main competition in both distances should come from Clovis senior Jerrick Maldonado, Rio Rancho High junior Dawson Gunn, and Rams’ senior Cobastian Martinez. Maldonado is favored in the 800 and 3,200, and Gunn in the 1,600.

Not much in state qualifying for Santa Fe High, while Capital High did not have any qualifiers.

But the Demons do have junior Harrison Ostenberg in the 100 meters and he has his fastest time at 11.29. They also qualified in the 4 x 100, 4 x 400 and 4 x 800, with senior Isaiah Velasquez, who was teammates at Indian School with Humetewa and then had to run for Santa Fe High, his district school, just missing qualifying for the 800 but will probably run a leg on the 4 x 800 team.

Just one qualifier for the Demonettes, and that is junior Leandra Metelet in the pole vault where she has a best up and over at 7-10.