Track season starts Saturday

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have adversely affected participation in Tucumcari's sports programs.

Track and field is no different.

When Tucumcari's track season begins at 9 a.m. Saturday with the Rattlers Relays at Rattler Stadium, coach Wayne Ferguson estimates he'll have only 15 boys and four girls participating.

Spring sports were canceled last year because of the pandemic. With participation numbers down with the resumption of those sports this spring, Ferguson said he has no idea whether any of his athletes have a chance to qualify for the state championships next month.

"I won't know much until we actually run a meet," he said.

He acknowledged he might have a state qualifier in Delilah Acosta, a junior. She just missed qualifying for state two years ago as a freshman in the shot put.

Dexter and New Mexico Military Institute are in Tucumcari's tiny district. But even winning the district meet, scheduled for June 11 at Tucumcari, is no guarantee anyone would go to the state championships in Albuquerque the following week.

Ferguson explained that like many prep sports this year, the New Mexico Activities Association tightened its criteria for state qualifying. He said only the top 16 athletes or teams in each enrollment classification throughout New Mexico would be considered. And those top 16 also must meet state-qualifying standards.

"It used to be the top two at district go to state," he said. "Even district champions are not guaranteed to go to state."