Boys to watch

Pancho Morris | The New Mexican

5/15/2008 - 5/16/08

AAA

Chris Phillips, Las Vegas Robertson. Phillips, a junior, enters state with a six-inch height advantage in the high jump. He cleared 6 feet, 7 inches during the regular season to earn the top seed. Phillips also is seeded second in the long jump and triple jump. Phillips is the defending state champion in the long jump and the state runner-up in the high jump. He was fourth in the triple jump a year ago.

Tony Sanchez, West Las Vegas. Sanchez, a senior, is the second seed in the 1,600 meters and fourth seed in the 3,200. Sanchez won the 3,200 last season. It was one of two state titles. His first came in cross country.

Dominick Valdez, St. Michael's. Valdez, a junior, is one of five pole vaulters to clear 11-0 this season. That quintet is only six inches behind Billy Pinto of Bloomfield and Brandon Bourn, the top seeds.

Estevan Vigil, Robertson. Vigil, a sophomore, won the 200 and ran second in the 100 and 400 at last year's state meet. This season, he is seeded first in the 200, second in the 100, third in the long jump and fourth in the 400. If he runs a fifth event, it will be a relay.

AAAA

Jordan Bolich, Capital. Bolich, a junior, shared seventh place at last year's state meet when he cleared 5-11 in the high jump. This year, he enters as the second seed with a season-best 6-5. The only jumper to go higher is Curtis Beach of Albuquerque Academy. Beach went 6-61/4. Jordan's twin brother, Devin, is the third seed at 6-3.

Gareth Gilna, Los Alamos. Gilna, a junior, is seeded third in the 1,600. That is one spot higher than sophomore teammate Kyle Pittman and three spots better than senior teammate Allen Pittman. Two other Los Alamos seniors, Tom Bowidowicz and Tom Witherell, also qualified. Allen and Kyle are seeded third and fourth, respectively, in the 3,200, while Gilna is the fifth seed in the 800.

Ruben Martinez, Los Alamos. Martinez, a senior who signed a national letter-of-intent to play football at New Mexico State University next season, is the top seed in the shot put and javelin. Martinez is the lone entrant to exceed 50-feet in the shot put with a season-best 50-6. He also threw 176-5 in the javelin. Martinez is the fourth seed in the discus. He also runs relays.

Jason Reagor, Los Alamos. Reagor, a junior, is seeded second in the 100 and seventh in the 200, while classmate Raul Rodriguez is the third seed in the 200 and the fifth seed in the 100. Both are relay mainstays.

Benigno Sandoval, Los Alamos. Sandoval, a junior, cleared 13-3 this season in the pole vault and shares the third seed. Sandoval also filled in on relays late in the season.

Matt Zocco, Los Alamos. Zocco, a senior, is seeded second in the 110 hurdles and third in the 300 hurdles. Zocco pole vaults and is part of the relay rotation.

AAAAA

Derrick Nuñez, Santa Fe High. Nuñez, a senior, is the lone Demon at state. In his first year competing in pole vault, Nuñez cleared 11-9. He is the 12th seed, though two feet separate the second through 12th seeds.