Wildcat philosophy: Every point matters

CLOVIS — If anyone knows the importance of depth at a state meet, it's Clovis boys track and field coach Mark Sena.

As a Fort Sumner High School athlete, Sena competed in the shot put and took fifth at state. His throw added two points onto the Fort Sumner total and the Foxes ultimately won a state championship by just a point.

So, it's crucial that Sena's Clovis boys team heads into this weekend's state 6A meet in Albuquerque having qualified in every event. Each Wildcat at the University of New Mexico's Track-Soccer complex means points that could tilt a trophy race.

"It takes every kid," Sena said after Tuesday's practice at Clovis High School. "I was an example of that. The two points I scored at state, I was a part of that. Every point matters."

Clovis entered last weekend's District 2-6A meet needing only to qualify in the 800-meter run. Jon Fuentes and Jerrick Maldonado took care of it by finishing first (1:58.66) and second (1:59.05), respectively, qualifying by both place and time.

"Jon and Jerrick qualifying ... is huge," Sena said, "because if you're not in an event, you can't score. And that makes a difference. The teams with depth are usually the ones that come out on top."

The Wildcats, who repeated as district champions last weekend, now have at least one entry in every state event, and hope that can carry them to an even bigger title.

"We're super-excited, just seeing how many points we can score," said Clovis senior Seth Lopez, who has qualified in the 100 and also runs on the Wildcat 400, 800 and sprint medley relays. "The blue's in our sights and we want to get it."

"We have a very good chance," Sena said. "Any time you have as many kids with potential to score as many points as we do, you have a chance."

Weather could be a factor, with Albuquerque forecasts calling for low-90s temperatures on Friday's first day of competition and high-80s for Saturday's conclusion.

"It's good and bad," Lopez said of the expected heat. "It's definitely better running in hot than cold. We've just got to take care of our bodies so we'll be able to run on both days."

"If the weather is nice and there's no wind, I think it'll be good to compete. But hopefully it's not way too hot," said Clovis freshman Mikyla Harkley, who can only compete in five events but has qualified in six - the long and triple jumps, the 200 and 400, and the 800- and 1,600-meter relays.

The Clovis girls did not qualify in every event, but are hoping to compete hard this weekend. Perhaps they can have some individual medalists by late Saturday.

"Every year there are kids that have a chance to surprise people," Sena said. "They have as good a chance as anyone."

Among the Lady Wildcat qualifiers who seem to have a chance at glory are Harkley — because she's qualified in so many events — and Kianna Chappell, who already leads the state with her regular-season shot put toss of 37-8 1/2. Chappell won last weekend's district shot put competition with a heave of 35-6 1/2.

Overall, both Clovis teams appear capable of making an imprint on the state meet.

"We're really capable," Lopez said. "We're the only (boys) team that has at least one person qualified in every event."

"Very exciting," Harkley said, "especially going with all my friends and teammates. It's going to be really fun."

"We've got the kids ready to go," Sena said. "The kids seem focused, they seem very opportunistic, and they need to be. They just have to go out and execute one more time, be a little better than they've ever been, and hopefully they can do something that they've never done."