Boys story - boys top 20

Girls story - girls top 20

Tune-up for TEBO
The star of the day was Matthew Tebo. But this story is not about one of the fastest runners in the nation. Instead the story is about a friendly, humble runner who just happens to run super fast. In an era where many young athletes let success go to their heads Matthew is a breath of fresh air. There wasn’t much to his race on Saturday. It was similar to most of his races. He led from start to finish. He took a couple of wrong turns, a theme that seemed to dominate the day. He pushed the pace and then cruised in to an easy victory. The real star of the day was on display after the race as the Eldorado Senior waited in the shoot and shook hands with every runner who finished the race. And after the race spectators could see the barefoot TEBO cooling down with a group of runners that included many of the top runners from Arizona. As his group slowly jogged around TEBO asked others to join the pack. A shin injury early in the season cost the Albuquerque senior 3 weeks of training. The University of New Mexico Meet was run during his first week of complete training. He no longer feels the affects of the injury but he doesn’t feel 100% yet. When discussing the race TEBO stated, “I was not feeling it today. But I love this course.” TEBO is getting ready to compete in the Footlocker West Regional in two weeks. He loves it when the pace is fast from the start and talked about running in a rhythm during a race, “I loved the Nike race because AJ (Acosta) took the race out hard and ran perfect splits.” TEBO is excited about the next month but doesn’t feel he is one of the greats. In discussing former Arizona Super Star Ken Cormier, Tebo said, “He is a superstar, I’m not there yet.” TEBO makes these statements as his female teammates rush to congratulate him. As do others. The considerate TEBO makes time for everyone. He shakes hands with an older visitor who wants to shake his hand, he hugs his teammates and he offers me a firm but friendly handshake as he gets ready for his cool down. TEBO’s running future is uncertain but what can be guaranteed is that TEBO will make friends wherever running takes him.

Arizona Dominates
Not many would have bet against Matt Tebo for the individual championship this weekend. Maybe someone would have laid down a ‘sawbuck’ on Victor Zazueta hopping for an upset. But that wasn’t going to happen. What did happen was a handful of hungry under dogs took their place at the head of the table. First lets talk about Zazueta. The Desert View senior looked like the only contender who had a chance to take TEBO’s title but dehydration led to some major stomach cramps. Zazueta was seen after the race being consoled by his faithful fans as he was only able to muster a 34th place finish. Zazueta feels confident that he will bounce back at Footlocker West, “I’ll be back, this race doesn’t mean a thing.” Jim Walmsley of Horizon High School was ready to take the lead for Arizona. He ran tough from the beginning and kept TEBO in his sights for the entire race. He was followed by a pack of Arizona Runners who included Sharles Simon, Matt Boughton, Daniel Lovell and John Yatsko. The two New Mexico runners who were sprinkled in the sea of red jersey’s came to Tempe with something to prove. Kevin Burnett of St. Pius X (4th) and Patrick Ortiz of Pecos (8th) came to Kiwanis park ready to run. Burnett was in 2nd place half way through the race and looked like he was in control of the chase pack. Ortiz was one of 3 New Mexico runners who chased Burnett. Over the last loop around the duck pond Walmsley and Simon were able to catch Burnett as Boiughton, Lovell, Yatsko, and Tim Freriks were able to move in front of Ortiz and Navajo Pine’s Ryan Nez (1/2A State Champ). With 600 meters to go Ortiz made a brave move and was able to move into the top 10. Burnett hung tough and finished in 4th ,which was 2 places higher than he was able to finish in the 4A division at the New Mexico state meet. The Arizona pack was too much for the rest of the New Mexico team as red jerseys (AZ) took 7 of the top 10 places. Medals were taken home by all the athletes but the three that stole the show with their gutsy racing and strong finishes were: Jim Walmsley, Kevin Burnett and Patrick Ortiz.

Boys Team
Arizona 82 New Mexico 133

Top 20 Individuals (48 Total)
1) Matt Tebo, NM 16:07
2) Jim Walmsley AZ 16:21
3) Sharles Simon, AZ 16:25
4) Kevin Burnett, NM 16:26
5) Matt Boughton, AZ 16:33
6) Daniel Lovell, AZ 16:34
7) John Yatsko, AZ 16:34
8) Patrick Ortiz, NM 16:40
9) Tim Freriks, AZ 16:40
10) Michael Anderson, AZ 16:41
11) Matt Evertt, NM 16:42
12) Reed Blockberger, AZ 16:43
13) Christopher Holve, AZ 16:44
14) Bryce Palmer, NM 16:46
15) Tanner Carothers, AZ 16:47
16) Nicholas Barrera, NM 16:49
17) Ryan Nez, NM 16:51
18) Matt Swift-Kraemer, AZ 16:54
19) Ray Suina, NM 16:56
20) Matt Lamson, AZ 16:58


Wrong Way!!
The fastest runner of the day was Nadya Bishton. There is no question about that. But the girl who ran the complete course in the fastest time was Rachel Velarde. Nadya Bishton made no doubt about her intentions at the Border War this year as she led the race early on. By the 400m mark she had a 3 step lead on Sandra Day O’Connor’s Lindsay Prescott who seemed to me cruising behind waiting to strike. At the 1 mile mark, as the runners when ‘under the bridge,’ Bishton seemed to pick up a couple of steps on Prescott as they zoomed up the short hill. As the pack curved around the softball fields Bishton opened up a 5 second lead on Prescott who was well ahead of a pack of 3 more Arizona Runners. By this time the team competition was no longer in doubt; Arizona would win and win big. What was in doubt was the order of finish. Prescott was paying for her early pace and the tough workout the O’Connor girls had run on Thursday, and Jessica Tonn was coming on hard from off the pace. So was Rachel Velarde who was in 12th place at the mile. The Velarde began to mow through the pack and mark the Arizona runners. By the time the race reached the 2 mile mark Bishton had an impressive 10 second lead, Prescott looked uneasy, Tonn locked like she was ready to strike and Velarde (now in 8th) was moving up. As the runners completed their final lap around the duck pond Bishton pulled away now follwed by Jessica Tonn who had moved passed Lindsay Prescott. But Prescott was not finished. She showed a lot of courage as she hung tough with Tonn. What was surprising was the emergence of Velarde who was now in 5th. She had passed Elba Holguin and Kake Norkeg who had been the top New Mexico runners thus far. With 400 meters to go the order seemed set. Nadya Bishton would win easily, Jessica Tonn seemed to have Lindsay Prescott in hand and Natsia Bishton would finis 4th. But then Nadya Bishton made a erroneous left and sprinted for the finish line without completing the last loop of the course. The three Arizona runners followed suit. But Rachel Velarde did not. Her teammates who had run the 5k course earlier in the day during the Region X championship, yelled at her and pointed toward the direction of the last loop. The three Arizona runners who trailed Nadya Bishton figured out the error and retraced their steps and followed Velarde. Nadya Bishton did not retrace her steps and decided to complete her version of the course. Velarde was able to hold off the Arizona contingent and was the 2nd runner to cross the finish line. Most everyone believed that Nadya Bishton had been disqualified for not completing the course but that was not the case. The race officials awarded Bishton with the first place medal and adjusted her time. Velarde would take home the silver medal but she was pleased with her performance, “I always start out slow, I like to make my move with 1 mile to go.” Velarde made her move and ran her race but she wasn’t able to take home the first place medal this time.

Girls Team
Arizona 73 New Mexico 142

Top 20 Individuals (42 Total)
1) Nadya Bishton, AZ 18:50
2) Rachel Velarde, NM 19:00
3) Jessica Tonn, AZ 19:04
4) Lindsay Prescott, AZ 19:06
5) Camille Olson, AZ 19: 09
6) Nastia Biston, AZ 19:10
7) Kate Nosrskeg, NM 19:15
8) Jillian Klassen, AZ 19:27
9) Elba Holguin, NM 19:29
10) Hanna Henson, AZ 19:34
11) Aleina Eisenhauer, AZ 19:34
12) Katrina Lee, AZ 19:47
13) Aeh Penney, AZ 19:50
14) Aleona Reyes, NM 19:50
15) Rrandy Castillo, NM 20:03
16) Julia Foster, NM 20:08
17) Shawna Winnegar, NM 20:12
18) Nicole Riley, AZ 20:13
19) Kristy Hannah, NM 20:16
20) Latrisha Blackstar, AZ 20:17

AZ-NM Borderwar Index Page