Thoreau freshman earns five state qualifications at district meet

KIRTLAND, N.M.

Thoreau freshman Max Milliken earned five medals on Saturday during the District 1-3A track meet with four of them being gold.

Milliken broke two personal records in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles as he claimed the district crown in those two events. He posted new PRs of 19.43 and 47.92 seconds, respectively, in both hurdles.

In the field events, he matched his PR of 7-06 in the pole vault. In the relay races, he helped the 4×200 team to a first place showing of 1:41.25 and a runner-up finish of 48.12 in the 4×100.

“Max Milliken qualified in five events today,” second-year Thoreau coach Tim Host said. “He’s the district champ in the pole vault and I bet he’s the school record holder because I bet Thoreau has never had anybody pole vault ever.

“He made it in the 110 hurdles, the 300 hurdles and he made it with the 4×100 and 4×200 teams,” he added. “For a freshman, that’s insane.”

Milliken said he’s exceeded his expectations this year while adding that he joined track to get ready for next season’s football season.

“I was actually focused on getting more speed for football, but I really like running track,” he said.

The Thoreau phenom said he’s still learning the ropes with his pole-vaulting skills as he competed against guys at the 4A and 5A level during the regular season.

“This is my first year trying it and it was challenging competing against those guys,” he said. “Most of them have been pole vaulting for a couple of years, and they’re vaulting like at 13 feet.”

As for the hurdles, he’s found a liking for it.

“I kind of just pick that up,” he said. “When I was in middle school, I always wanted to try hurdles, but they didn’t have hurdles in middle school, so I had my chance this year and I’m pretty good at it.”

Looking ahead, Milliken is aiming to make the finals in both hurdles at the New Mexico Class 3A state track meet, which starts on Friday at the UNM Track-Soccer Complex. The prelims for both events will be Friday with the finals on Saturday.

In addition to Milliken, Thoreau qualified sophomore Taylen Endito in the 110 hurdles as he placed second with a time of 21.02 on Saturday. In the triple jump, freshman Riley White took second with a 34-09 effort.

Like Milliken, White runs a leg in both the 4×100 and 4×200 relay teams which also consists of senior Christopher Largo (both relays), senior Derrick Yazzie (4×100) and sophomore Herbert Yazzie (4×200).

The girls team had junior Hope Yazzie earn three individual state qualifications as she captured the district title in the high jump at 4-06 while adding a pair of second place finishes in the open 100 (14.39) and 200 (29.72).

“I think I did pretty good,” said Yazzie, who hit three new PRs in those events. “I hope to at least place in the top 5 at state.”

Yazzie earned another qualification with the 4×200 team that placed second with a time of 2:04.28. That group is made up of Yazzie, junior Madison Woodie, freshman Khalea Loretto and eighth grader Aaliyah Kemp.

“Everything she touched was gold,” Host said of Yazzie. “I mean, she won the district in high jump. She hadn’t high jump before the school year, and she makes it to state.”

Woodie added a second qualification by placing second in the 3200-meter run behind district champion Ronelle Mike of Crownpoint.

“I was seeded first, and my goal was to keep first,” Woodie said. “I got out a little slow, but I stilled ended up second, which I’m very satisfied with. It’s my first time doing track and field and it’s my first time ever going to state.”

Mike, who gained the upper hand after the third lap, completed the eight-lap race in 13:50.24 with Woodie a close second at 13:52.50.

“She had a slight lead over me,” Woodie said of Mike. “I think I could have done a little better, but, yeah, she kind of got me there at the end.”

The Hawks also got freshman Kawaeia Abad to make state as she took second in the discus with a throw of 81-11.

“We had an incredible amount of kids giving an incredible amount of effort today,” Host said. “I mean, we had kids step up. That’s the kind of team that we have. They are just tough as nails.”

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