NMSD participated in the NMAA State Track and Field Championship over the weekend, and senior Santiago Lopez came back a 2x champ! Santiago placed first in the 1A boys 100 and 200-meter race. Read the excerpt from the Santa Fe New Mexican by James Barron below for his post-race interview.
Santa Fe New Mexican
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Boys State Track and Field Championships
St. Michael's rolls to seventh straight 3A title
By James Barron jbarron@sfnewmexican.com
New Mexico School for the Deaf’s Santiago Lopez hit the weight room in the offseason after placing fourth in the 1A 100 last year. That hard work was rewarded with not just a first in the race a year ago, beating Logan’s Aydin Kotara 11.25-11.29, but a first in the 200 in the afternoon.
Once again, he bested Kotara in running a 22.58 that was just 0.08 off the state record.
Lopez said he focused on his start out of the block, which just augmented his quick acceleration.
“I studied a lot of races,” Lopez said through an interpreter. “How [sprinters] start, how they push up out of the blocks fast and get ahead of racers. I think that gives them the edge on the race.”
Read Full Article Here
Watch One of Santiago's Races Here