SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By Arnie Leshin
Charli Koseoglu is one of those high school athletes who loves to compete, as she has done with the girls basketball program at Academy of Technology and The Classics, with the cross country team, and in track and field where she goes from one event to another proud of her versatility.
And at the recent Golden Spike Classic run at Santa Fe High, it was her best day, one in which she entered four events and won them all. No doubt a first for her, but she’s worked hard to earn it. As a starter on the basketball court under head coach Ron Drake, she has handled the ball, shot the ball, brought down rebounds and played smart defense, and in cross country she ran a neat leg with the state 2A champions.
In track and field, she’s just improved each time out. In the Golden Spike 100 meters, the junior finished first in 13.70 ahead of Santa Fe High senior Olive Beffort, who timed 13.79. She swept both hurdles, winning the 100 in 17.52 and the 300 in 48.77.
Then she headed for the field events and was the best in the field in the javelin with a throw of 89-10.50. In the 3rd-place sprint medley relay, she probably got in a leg there, too. She had a tight finish in the 100 hurdles as second place sophomore Jada Lujan of St. Michael’s raced 17:68. But in the longer hurdles, it was all Koseoglu.
The javelin was also hers, with her best throw bettering the 86-03 heave by Santa Fe Prep sophomore Lauren McHorse. And ninth in the 100 dash was ATTC 8th-grader “Willow” Koseoglu, no doubt a relative.
It was also a stellar performance by St. Michael’s sophomore Raylee Hunt, state champion in 3A cross country and in track and field’s 1,600 and 3,200 distances. In this meet, she ran off with the 800 in 2:23, and the 1,600 in 5:24.24. Neither race was close, with state 2A champion Josette Gurule of ATTC the runner-up in 2:32.41, and also second in the 1,600 in 5:45.55.
In the 3,200, Santa Fe Indian School rising freshman Destiny Chino topped the field in the time of 12:48.39.
In the high jump, Santa Fe Prep sophomore Emery Kurth, daughter of Griffins’ athletic director Todd Kurth, won the event by going over at 4-10, the same as Lujan of the Lady Horseman, but Kurth had the fewer misses. Then there was state tennis champion, senior Isabel Voinescu of Prep taking first in the long jump with a best of 16-05, and the triple jump at 32-08, just beating out St.Michael’s junior Jacqueline Gorman’s best of 32:07.50.
In the relays, Santa Fe Prep won the 4 x 100 in 53.68, the 4 x 200 and 4 by 400 went to St. Michael’s, and the 4 x 800 went to Santa Fe High.
