By Glen Rosales
Special to the SUN

When it comes to McCurdy track and field, all eyes turn to the girls 4x 800 meter relay team.

The Bobcats have the Class 2A state championship in consecutive seasons and are the current record holder in the event.

What’s more, three of those gold medalists are back to try and win one more: senior Kaylee Martinez and juniors Marisol Serna and Avery Knight, all of whom also run cross country, are the quartet’s bellwethers, and have welcomed the addition of Española native and junior Anika Calvert, who transferred over from the Academy of Technology and the Classics after sitting out track there last season.

“We have a small but mighty team,” McCurdy coach Carlos Martinez said. “These distance girls over the four years, these girls have done some amazing things. They are the heart of the team.”

And that’s the same for the guys team, as well, he said.

“On both sides, it kind of even goes for the boys teams, what these girls have done, because of what these girls have done,” Carlos Martinez said.

And now the Bobcats are starting to gain from that notoriety, with a whole new group of athletes looking to make their mark, even if in a different arena.

“We’ve gotten quite a few sprinting girls and they’re coming up and they’re right there with them as far as being able to compete at that level,” Carlos Martinez said.

Of course, that level is pretty high and if the Bobcats can elevate other parts of the team, McCurdy could become a real force as between the four relay specialists, they also button down most of the distance events, with Serna and Calvert already qualified in the 3,200.

“We’re pushing for our times,” Carlos Martinez said. “More so for them, it’s getting their times for them the last three years, just getting out there and running their races, getting comfortable in their individual races and relays. Getting comfortable with each other. Even though there is a newcomer, it’s not like they missed a beat. But it’s still getting to know each other. They have big goals and they need to be able to run their race mentally.”

When it comes to speed, senior Xochitl Madrid-Estrada is leading the pack and will focus on the spring relays.

Then it’s a matter of filling in around her with some of the quality competitors who are emerging.

Senior Isabella Martinez and sophomores Gabby Velasquez and Adriana Castillo are all in the running, as are eighth graders: Justine Tsosie and Brooklynn Medina.

For the boys, there is quite a bit of inexperience, but plenty of enthusiasm.

“The relays are looking strong,” Carlos Martinez said. “It’s very difficult to qualify for state but in most of them, we’re just missing it by a few seconds. So we’re starting to get into stretch run with the district meet and the next few meets to sort some things out for the boys squad.”

Where the boys really shine, much like the girls, is with athletes from the cross country team, where freshmen Aaron Martinez and Isaac Corona are top ‘Cats.

“Distance is looking strong with guys from the cross country team,” Carlos Martinez said. “A lot of those ones out there are young guys, getting stronger very day, fighting for those qualifying times.”

Aaron Martinez specializes in the 3,200 and 1,600 meter runs and will also run the 4×800 relay, while Corona goes for the 400, 800 as well as anchoring the 4×800 and the medley relay.

Basketball players Emilio Espinoza (senior) and sophomore Adrian Martinez are all over the 4×100, and they will be joined by junior Devin Ortiz and freshman Noah Martinez.

The 4×200 will feature Noah Martinez, as well sophomore Matteo Martinez, sophomore Austin Aragon and Damion Rivera.

Senior JJ Vigil kind of fills in where needed, as does senior Ethan Bolton, who prefers hurdles, javelin, long jump and triple jump.

Senior Isaac Morales is trying to qualify in all of the throws and seniors Isaac Madrid-Estrada is searching for his specialty.

“We have some young guys who are right there, tipping at that state time so it should be interesting,” Carlos Martinez said. “They work hard at practice and I kind of expect them to step it up in the next couple of weeks in practice and as we get into the next few meets, that these guys fight for those times. They know that they’re right there, they just have to fight for it.”