It was quite a busy Saturday for Volcano Vista high school senior Angela Korte.
Korte arrived to the UNM Track & Soccer Complex around 9 a.m. Saturday to warm up for her four by 800-meter relay race at the 2022 NMAA State Track & Field Championships.
Her race began at 10 a.m., and less than 10 minutes later, Korte was a state champion. The relay team of Korte, junior Liliana Sanchez, sophomore Marisa Sena and freshman Haili Begay posted a time of time of 9:51.91 to beat Rio Rancho by nearly four full seconds and earn their state championship medals.
Korte’s day was far from over, however.
Over an hour later, Korte, who is student body president, received her diploma and delivered an inspiring speech at Volcano Vista’s graduation ceremony.
“I’m just amazed; it took all my energy not to cry because I gotta make this makeup last the whole day, but it’s really exciting,” Korte said after graduation. “I’m just so proud of my team, my class, and it’s really hard saying goodbye this year.”
Volcano Vista senior Angela Korte poses after graduation Saturday at Tingley Coliseum.
Volcano Vista student body president Angela Korte gives a speech at graduation Saturday.
After taking pictures with friends and family, Korte said goodbye to Tingley and rushed back the Track & Soccer Complex to compete in two more races.
First, Korte finished third in the 400-meter dash with a time of 1:00.38, just two seconds off the lead. Then she won the four by 400-meter relay along with Sena, Sanchez and junior Marianna Marquez.
Courtesy of NMAA Volcano Vista’s Angela Korte was presented with an NMAA Foundation Scholarship Saturday.
In between her two afternoon races, Korte was presented with an NMAA Foundation Dan & Lucille Wood Gray Gladiator Athletic Scholarship, which is presented to student-athletes who excel in both athletics and academics and is worth $1,000.
Korte wasn’t the only Volcano Vista athlete to become a graduate and a state champion this weekend.
Senior Jaelyn Bates, also a star basketball player, won the state championship in the long jump Friday at the UNM Track & Soccer Complex with a jump of 18 feet, 4 inches. Bates missed graduation Saturday because she was competing in the 200-meter dash, where she finished second (25.42), and the 300 hurdles, which again was a second-place finish at 45.56.
Volcano Vista senior Jaelyn Bates won the state championship in the long jump Friday.
Other top-performing Volcano Vista athletes this weekend include:
Kaitlyn Russell, who was third in the 300 hurdles (46.87) and fifth in the 100 hurdles (16.18)
Liliana Sanchez was fifth in the 800-meter run (2:23.67)
Carysa Marquez was fifth in the 3,200 (11:59.27)
Daniel Campos was the top-performing boy, finishing second in the shot put (50-5) and third in the discus (142-4)
Thomas Croshaw was fourth in the 3,200 (9:51.66)
Bridger Schaap was fifth in the 400-meter dash (50.35).
Kevin, also known as Steak Sauce, is a reporter for the Neighborhood Journal with a focus on the Ventana Ranch area. He has over 14 years of journalism experience, including reporting, editing and page design.
