SANTA MARIA — Kristen Aleman may be a little nervous heading into the UIL Class 2A state meet this weekend, but the freshman is as ready as she’ll ever be.
However, Aleman has found success despite not being able to practice on a conventional synthetic track surface.
In fact, the freshman practices on a blacktop surface that circles the football field at Santa Maria’s small stadium.
Nevertheless, Aleman has found a way to excel when she does get on a traditional surface. Once she arrives at a track site, the freshman runs a few laps around the track to adjust to the surface.
“As soon as we get to the meet I have her run a few laps to adjust,” said Santa Maria track & field coach Juan Silva. “That way once she starts racing and competing she knows if it’s soft or if it’s springy.”
And so far her system has worked.
At the Region IV-2A meet in Kingsville earlier this season, she took second place in the 3200-meter run with a time of 12:35.14 and claimed the first spot in the 1600-meter run with a time of 5:33.37.
“I’m a little nervous,” said Aleman about going to state. “There is really not a lot of pressure on me because everyone is just excited that I made it.”
Aleman will begin her state competition by running the 3200 at 8 on Friday morning before moving on to the 1600 at 2:45 on Saturday afternoon.
Traditionally, Santa Maria has excelled in distance events. The Cougars have consistently qualified athletes to the regional meet every year since 1992. However, Aleman is the first Santa Maria runner to qualify for the state meet in Austin since 2006.
And Coach Silva explained that Aleman’s desire and a hard work ethic have been at the epicenter of her success.
“She is very competitive,” explained Silva. “She plays volleyball and she wants to beat you, she plays basketball and she wants to beat you, and when she steps on the track to run she wants to win.”
