Making third straight trip to Class 3A State Track & Field Championship, Ochoa breaks school record for silver medal in 400-meter dash
Accomplishing a feat that has not been achieved by a member of the Clifton boys track team since 1998, Cub junior Ray Ochoa made most of his third return trip to the UIL Class 3A State Track & Field Championships last Saturday. Setting a new school record with a time of 48.22 in the 400-meter dash, Ochoa claimed the silver medal at Mike A. Myers Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas in Austin.
“Ray was able to accomplish his goals that he had set at the beginning of the track season, which were qualifying for the state track meet again, and this time, getting on the podium stand,” Clifton boys track head coach Mario Villalpando said. “Ray had to battle through some adversity throughout the entire track season, which made qualifying for the state meet even more special.”
Breaking his own school record with a time of 48.74 at the Class 3A, Region III Championships at Midway High School April 19-20, Ochoa qualified for the state meet for the third straight year by capturing the gold medal in the 400-meter dash.
At the state meet Saturday evening, Ochoa battled state champion Jackson Aydelott of Vernon down the home stretch, who won the gold medal with a time of 47.94, and finished just ahead of bronze medal winner Daniel Sianez of Muleshoe, who posted a time of 48.39.
“At the state meet, you want to perform your best of the season, and Ray was able to do that,” Villalpando said. “Ray set a new personal record and school record, and that time was fast enough to earn him a silver medal. It has been fun to get to watch Ray compete this season, and we are all extremely proud of Ray.”
Last year, the Clifton boys track captured the silver medal in the 4×400-meter (mile) relay. Other than that, the last time a Clifton boy won an individual medal was in 1998 when TJ Henderson brought home the gold medal in the pole vault.
Speaking of pole vault, Lady Cub sophomore Alexa Lane qualified for her second straight trip to the state meet by delivering a regional gold medal performance in pole vault by soaring 11 feet, three inches after setting a new personal record at the District 17-3A Championships. Unfortunately, Lane struggled at the state meet, failing to clear 10 feet on three attempts.
Junior Olivia Baird of Mount Vernon became state champion with a vault of 12-6, followed by junior silver medalist Baylor Wright of Coahoma (11-6) and senior bronze medalist Maggie Rudisaile of Marion (11-6).
“Sometimes, things don’t work out like you want,” Clifton girls track head coach Ryan Hunt said. “But it doesn’t change what Alexa has been able to accomplish this year. Her improvement this year has been tremendous. You don’t become a regional champion without putting in a great amount of work. And that is what she has done in pole vault since last track season.”
Photos by WENDY OROZCO
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