By Moses Leos III
When the bell lap sounded in Thursday’s 1600-meter run at the 13- and 14-6A area track meet, Hays High senior Esmi Fuentes knew she had to shift herself into a higher gear.
By doing so, Fuentes catapulted into a second place finish, securing a spot in the Region II meet in Waco.
For Fuentes, performing for friends, family and coaches pushed her forward.
“I was doubting myself a little bit in the first few laps, but there are people…who put in time to watch me,” Fuentes said. “I had to give it my best effort on my last lap, so they could be proud of what I did.”
Fuentes said she knew the 1600-meter race was going to be fast because of the competition she was up against.
Participants in the 1600-meter run included Rouse High’s Maddie Boreman, who was the Region II champion in 2015.
While most of the partipants in the area meet were friends, Fuentes said they all have developed a friendly rivalry.
“I knew what I was coming into, I knew it was going to be a fast race, so I had to make it out,” Fuentes said. “I was trying to believe in myself that I could make the top four.”
Overcoming an achilles injury that hindered her in the 2015 area meet also played a pivotal role. Fuentes said she has been “taking care of it” during the season, and that trainers have helped her get her achilles back into shape.
“It doesn’t even hurt, it doesn’t even feel like it’s there anymore,” she said. “I feel like I’ve had a strong year.”
Consistency has also followed Fuentes, who will make her second straight Class 6A, Region II meet appearance. She’ll compete in both the 1600-meter and 3200-meter runs.
“It’s everyone’s goal to make it to state,” Fuentes said. “So I’m going to keep up my training and go hard at workouts so I can make it to state.”
Joining Fuentes at the Region II meet will be junior Lauren Sikoski, who won the girls pole vault, along with Camille Dickson, who claimed third in the girls long jump and fourth in the girls 100 meter dash.
Dickson, who started with the long jump Thursday, said she wasn’t entirely confident heading into the competition.
“I knew my competition was really good, and they were jumping (18-feet),” Dickson said. “I knew I had to jump 18, so I kind of psyched myself out a little bit.”
Working with a new mark for her starting point was also something she worked with. Dickson said working with marks is something track athletes work in practice, but that it’s more difficult in the long jump.
“It’s different in practice, because you don’t have the same adrenaline, so you aren’t sure if it’s going to work,” Dickson said.
The ability to reach 17 feet, .1 inch pushed Dickson into her first Class 6A, Region II meet.
Focusing on running her best Thursday also catapulted Dickson into the Region II meet in the 100 meter dash.
“I know I had a great start, but (the competition) got ahead,” Dickson said. “But I’m just glad I’m moving on.”
Moving a step away from the state meet provides Dickson motivation for the future.
“Maybe this year I’ll be going to state, but definitely next year, I’ll work at it all summer.”
