sports

Area athletes surprised by high finishes

By Sunnie Clahchischiligi
Navajo Times

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., May 15, 2014

Taea Hill and Shelby Peterson knew their chances of placing during the New Mexico high school state track and field championships were high but didn't expect to be at the top of the podium.

The two took home gold medals in field events at the 1-2A New Mexico Activities Association state track and field championships, along with a number of other meda;s.

"It was expected, but I was just trying to stay humble about it all," Hill said. "I'm really glad of the way I finished."

Hill placed first in the girl's 2A triple jump with a mark of 34-05.25.

She said it was a nerve-wrecking experience as she went back in forth with a jumper from Texico.

She was ranked first in the event and made her last jump before the Texico jumper. After her jump, it was a waiting game.

"I just told myself I had to stay calm and see how she jumps," she said. "After she jumped I was just excited."

Hill received another couple of surprises throughout the rest of the meet.

On Saturday, during the running finals, she placed first in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16.48 and first in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 47.71. She also contributed to Ramah's third-place finish in the 4x100-meter relay and fourth in the 4x200-meter relay.

She said she was surprised by her two first-place finishes in the hurdles events because it was only her second season participating.

"I haven't been doing it long," Hill said. "I just knew I had to give it all I could, and I had to have the best start I could."

Last year, Hill placed third in the 100-meter hurdles and came into the state meet this year sitting in third place.

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