El Paso is having a tremendous year in track and field, having qualified 11 athletes to the University Interscholastic League state championships May 9-10. Four of them advanced in two events, two set Region 1-5A meet records and another set a Region 1-4A meet record.
But let's not forget about the great Jackie Campos from Santa Teresa, a small New Mexico school that often gets overlooked. Sure, Santa Teresa isn't in the El Paso Times' coverage area when it comes to sports, but Campos deserves mention considering she's competed toe-to-toe with some of El Paso's most talented distance runners.
Santa Teresa head track and field coach Epifanio Solis e-mailed me some recent information on Campos, a junior, and these are the highlights of her accomplishments in 2008.
Campos is heading to the New Mexico Class 4A track and field championships May 16-17 and will be looking for her third consecutive 3,200-meter title and first 1,600 crown.
She currently is ranked No. 2 in both the mile and 2-mile among state-qualifying girls.
Her best times are 11 minutes, 46 seconds in the 2-mile and 5:19 in the mile, both run this season. Campos annually races against El Paso athletes in cross country and in track, and Solis gives credit to El Paso runners for helping give her quality competition.
Solis also said Campos continues to gain strength and speed, much stronger than last season. Going into the state championships, Campos has won 10 of her 12 events ranging from the 800 to the 3,200.
Best of luck to Campos at the state meet, as she continues to represent Santa Teresa at the highest!
Some quick hits on Campos cross country and track and field accomplishments at state:
•Freshman year
—3,200, first place
—1,600, fourth place
(Didn't run cross country)
•Sophomore year
—Second place, cross country
—3,200, first place
—1,600, third place
•Junior year
—First place, cross country
Thank you Mr. Jurado: Just to let you know that Jackie improved her best in the 3200m this past weekend in Alamogordo. Her time now is 11:32.6 and is ranked number 1 in state. We are looking for improving her best in the mile this weeken at field of dreams stadium in Las Cruces,NM.
Posted by: Coach: Epifanio Solis | Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 08:47 AM
Lenny,
I think it is great that you have highlighted the accomplishments of runners from the Santa Teresa/Las Cruces area. This young lady deserves due recognition. I wish her the best at state. I look forward to reading about her soon.
Back in the mid 70s, the Las Cruces area had great runners like Sal Briones, a 2-time state champion. His competitiveness made me a better overall runner. He pushed me and everyone else to the limit.
Ruben Dominguez Jr
1973 Cross Country State Champion
1974 Mile Run State Champioin
Posted by: Ruben Dominguez Jr | Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 10:04 AM
A chance that is given them, it's what i understand about it.
Posted by: resveratrol | Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 12:45 AM