Burroughs’ Valles has new goal for state meet
Prior to what has become a long and arduous track and field season, Burroughs High’s Christian Valles set a specific goal.
The junior boys’ pole vaulter focused his sights on qualifying for the 99th CIF State Track and Field Championships.
But now that Valles has earned a spot in the state preliminaries, he has amended that original goal.
“That was my goal before the season, to be able to make it to the state meet,” Valles said. “Going to the state meet is awesome and it’s amazing that I have been able to make it. But now that I’ve made it, I’m not happy just to be there. I’m really looking to try and place high and hopefully get a new [personal record].
“I know the competition is going to be tough, but I think I can do well and that’s the meet to do it at.”
Valles will take part in the pole vault preliminaries at 5 p.m. Friday at Veterans Memorial Stadium on the campus of Buchanan High in Clovis. He will need to be among the top 12 in a field of 22 in the prelims to advance to the finals Saturday evening at the same venue.
Valles is the third Burroughs pole vaulter in the past four years to advance to state competition, as Matt Schwartz qualified in 2014 and Sarah Prystupa advanced on the girls’ side in 2016.
“Both of the times that Matt and Sarah made it to state, they both placed seventh in their years,” Valles said. “So I’m kind of trying to break that seventh-place barrier that Burroughs athletes have had recently. Hopefully I will be able to do that.”
Said Burroughs pole vault coach Mike McHorney: “Christian does want to hopefully finish better than seventh to finish ahead of those two, but he also knows that the top six get medals and he really wants that.”
Valles will be among an accomplished group in Friday’s prelims. The field, which includes just four non-seniors among the 22, is led by Redondo Union senior Tate Curran, whose best of 17 feet is just three inches off the state meet record of 17-3 set in 2008 by Nico Weiler of Los Gatos.
The other top competitors include Lance Huber of Del Oro (San Jose Section) at 16-1, Michael Magula of Marina (Southern Section) at 16-0, Mason Pierce of Colfax (San Jose Section) at 15-6 and Jered Espanola of James Logan (Northern Section) at 15-4.
After the top five, there are nine athletes at 15-0, which includes Valles, who has achieved the mark three times this season.
“I know I can go higher,” he said. “I have seen where I’m seeded and there is that big group all at 15-0. I’m hoping that I’m going to be able to come out of that pack and really have a good effort.”
Valles, who won his second straight Pacific League championship, advanced through the Masters Meet on Friday. In the Masters Meet, the junior placed seventh and earned an automatic berth in the state meet by clearing 15-0 on his third and final attempt at Arcadia High.
“Christian just has to be one of the top 12 on Friday to make it to the finals on Saturday,” McHorney said. “I think he can do that. He has been really close to making 15-6 and I think if he can do that, he’ll be alright. I’m looking for him to do that Friday.
“His mind and his body is already conditioned for this, so it’s just a matter of putting it all together.”
Valles is the lone area athlete this season to qualify for state competition.
Twitter: @jefftsports
