Navajo Prep sophomore looking for a state title

AZTEC

When most see Martinique Larvingo they see a young athlete with a lot to learn.

But for those who take a closer look know that the Navajo Preparatory School sophomore is wise beyond her years.

“You talk to her and you think that she’s really immature and young, but at the same time when she gets out there to compete it’s like a whole different girl,” said Navajo Prep head coach Stephanie Zahne. “She just goes after what she wants.”

Larvingo’s go-getter attitude is one of the many things that has lead her to another successful track and field season.

Going into the New Mexico Class 3A state track meet, Larvingo has qualified in five events. She will compete in both the 100- and 300-meter hurdles as well as the triple jump event. She will also take part in both the 4×200 and 4×400 relay teams. The state meet will be held tomorrow and Saturday at the University of New Mexico track stadium in Albuquerque.

At last weekend’s 3A district 1 meet, Larvingo picked up five district crowns, which was held at Aztec High School.

With the exception of the 4×200 relay team, Larvingo qualified for state in all of those events last season. She said her best finish happened in the 300 hurdles and she plans on surpassing that.

“Last year I was like ‘yes I got to go to state my freshman year, I got to experience it,’” she said.

This year she wants to place and make the podium. And if you ask anyone who knows her, she probably will.

Zahne said Larvingo has taken her state bids seriously to the point that she looked up her standing for the state meet and told her coaches what she wanted and needed to do to compete. And with a pretty good standing, Zahne is pretty convinced that Larvingo has a chance to place at state.

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