Gallup senior dedicates his gold medal win to late father

Posted by Sunnie R. Clahchischiligi | May 17, 2018 | Track & Field |

Navajo Times | Ravonelle Yazzie
Gallup senior Zakarri Fields dashes to the finish line to win a first-place win in the 400-meter dash at the New Mexico Class 5A state track meet on Saturday afternoon in Albuquerque. Fields had a winning time of 49.44 seconds.

ALBUQUERQUE

The New Mexico Class 5A state track meet proved to be an emotional one for Gallup senior Zakarri Fields.

Fields won three medals including a first-place finish in the 400-meter dash at the University of New Mexico Track-Soccer Complex on Saturday.

Last season, Fields took home the silver so he was determined to win first this year.

“Winning second last year was a great feeling but I didn’t want to settle for second again,” he said. “That was my goal to win first place so during the offseason I was pushing myself, working harder than last year.”

Fields won the event with a time of 49.44 seconds as he entered the finals feeling good about himself after winning the prelims the day before.

“It gave me a little confidences coming in, but the other runners still pushed me because they were pretty close behind me,” he said.

After winning his event on Saturday, Fields took a moment with himself and pointed skyward as he dedicated his win to his late father, Tommy Fields, who passed last month in Albuquerque.

“I knew that he wanted me to win and I did it for him,” Fields said. “I hope that he’s proud.”