State Track Preview: Rivas takes next step
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
GREENFIELD — After running the regionals one year ago, with a sixth place finish, McClain junior Luis Rivas achieved a goal he set out to chase at the beginning of this season … reaching the 2011 OHSAA Division II State Track & Field championships.
The junior will be running in the 400-meter dash against the best of the best this Friday in Columbus, at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
Rivas was third in the regional meet this season with a time of 50.92.
At the district meet, he ran a time of 50.18 for second place, and in the South Central Ohio League meet, he won with a time of 50.24.
"His time isn't one of the better times coming in, but he can run with them," McClain boys track coach Bob Bergstrom said. "He is just as good as anyone at state at this time, so he's got a good chance to placing high in the state.
"Luis has a good work ethic and works hard. We have to keep him healthy."
When Rivas crossed the finish line in the regional meet at Byesville, he knew he accomplished his goal.
"I crossed the finish line and there were two others still running, really close, a couple inches within each other, and I kind of lost my footing and got this nice strawberry right here (pointing to his forearm), and it was pretty interesting. I was scared for a little bit, but once the times came up, I knew I made it.
"Last year I was sixth in the region, and all the competition at that time was seniors. So they all left. This was my goal this year, and I reached it."
Rivas is a three-sport student-athlete at McClain, as he's a part of the defending back-to-back SCOL boys soccer champions, while also being the kicker for the football team. Though Rivas said soccer is his No. 1 sport, he enjoys track as well, though he got into the sport to help his soccer season.
"To start with I play soccer, that's my main sport, and to play that you have a lot of conditioning. I figured I'd try track my freshman year, and I've been here ever since," Rivas said. "I like to do my best whenever I compete in a sport, and I like to stand out and make sure I am a presence on the field or on the track. A lot of people and family members tell me they enjoy watching me play sports. I just like to make people happy."
With the 400m dash being described a "grueling race" due to the fact it is a non-stop sprint for one lap around the track, Rivas said the event is very tough.
"The 400 is a very difficult event. A lot of people call it the man's race … it's tough."
Rivas went into more detail about the form he uses to be successful in the race.
"You are at a full sprint for a lap, and one thing that comes in hand is your form. (Coach) Bergstrom is on that. He wants you to have good form. When you are going around the track, and people are dying on the last 100, that is when you need to keep your form to finish the race. Form can win you a lot of races and get you a lot of good times.
"Good form is good rhythm with your arms. Your arms are moving in rhythm with your legs. Coach (Bob) Bergstrom always has my arms up so I can see my thumb when I am straight, and back like I'm putting a gun in a holster. That is good form."
Coach Bergstrom talked about his top track runner this season.
"Luis has been one of the mainstays of the track team for three years now. He placed in the regionals last year, and our next goal was to make it to state this year," Bergstrom said. "We got that, so now our goal when we get to state is to make it to the platform."
Rivas is a very focused athlete, whether he steps onto a soccer field or onto the track for a race. He stated he wants to make a difference when he competes, but he does think about some things before he starts a race.
"There are lots of things on my mind before a race, it's stressful and it hurts your stomach. Your legs feel like jello, then they tighten up and you feel like you aren't going to make it. But as soon as the (field) gun goes off, all of that goes away," he said. "The main things I think about is what my time will look like, and how I am able to do on my next race. This time though I only have a single event, so I have to get it done. I have to get it right."
Pride and working hard is another element that drives Rivas, who has rarely lost this season when competing in a 400m dash event.
"It means a lot to me (making state). It shows me that the work and effort paid off," Rivas said. "I just look forward to hopefully placing somewhere in state, and try again next year to make it and get a higher spot."
Bergstrom talked about the path Rivas took to reach state, as he is the first McClain athlete to reach the state level in four years.
"At times I reminded him that is what our goal was, because I would work him hard in practice," Bergstrom said. "I told him 'this is where we need to get to,' and he pushed through the pain and tiredness to get here. I'm very proud of that, and he is a very fine athlete."
Rivas also spoke about how one of, if not, his biggest fan will not be at the state meet, but would have enjoyed the moment.
"My grandfather (John Daniels), who recently passed, he would sit right by the finish line (pointing at the exact spot) waiting for me to cross the line," Rivas said. "I just know he'd be eating this with a spoon if he could have come up to the state meet and see me run."[[In-content Ad]]
The junior will be running in the 400-meter dash against the best of the best this Friday in Columbus, at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
Rivas was third in the regional meet this season with a time of 50.92.
At the district meet, he ran a time of 50.18 for second place, and in the South Central Ohio League meet, he won with a time of 50.24.
"His time isn't one of the better times coming in, but he can run with them," McClain boys track coach Bob Bergstrom said. "He is just as good as anyone at state at this time, so he's got a good chance to placing high in the state.
"Luis has a good work ethic and works hard. We have to keep him healthy."
When Rivas crossed the finish line in the regional meet at Byesville, he knew he accomplished his goal.
"I crossed the finish line and there were two others still running, really close, a couple inches within each other, and I kind of lost my footing and got this nice strawberry right here (pointing to his forearm), and it was pretty interesting. I was scared for a little bit, but once the times came up, I knew I made it.
"Last year I was sixth in the region, and all the competition at that time was seniors. So they all left. This was my goal this year, and I reached it."
Rivas is a three-sport student-athlete at McClain, as he's a part of the defending back-to-back SCOL boys soccer champions, while also being the kicker for the football team. Though Rivas said soccer is his No. 1 sport, he enjoys track as well, though he got into the sport to help his soccer season.
"To start with I play soccer, that's my main sport, and to play that you have a lot of conditioning. I figured I'd try track my freshman year, and I've been here ever since," Rivas said. "I like to do my best whenever I compete in a sport, and I like to stand out and make sure I am a presence on the field or on the track. A lot of people and family members tell me they enjoy watching me play sports. I just like to make people happy."
With the 400m dash being described a "grueling race" due to the fact it is a non-stop sprint for one lap around the track, Rivas said the event is very tough.
"The 400 is a very difficult event. A lot of people call it the man's race … it's tough."
Rivas went into more detail about the form he uses to be successful in the race.
"You are at a full sprint for a lap, and one thing that comes in hand is your form. (Coach) Bergstrom is on that. He wants you to have good form. When you are going around the track, and people are dying on the last 100, that is when you need to keep your form to finish the race. Form can win you a lot of races and get you a lot of good times.
"Good form is good rhythm with your arms. Your arms are moving in rhythm with your legs. Coach (Bob) Bergstrom always has my arms up so I can see my thumb when I am straight, and back like I'm putting a gun in a holster. That is good form."
Coach Bergstrom talked about his top track runner this season.
"Luis has been one of the mainstays of the track team for three years now. He placed in the regionals last year, and our next goal was to make it to state this year," Bergstrom said. "We got that, so now our goal when we get to state is to make it to the platform."
Rivas is a very focused athlete, whether he steps onto a soccer field or onto the track for a race. He stated he wants to make a difference when he competes, but he does think about some things before he starts a race.
"There are lots of things on my mind before a race, it's stressful and it hurts your stomach. Your legs feel like jello, then they tighten up and you feel like you aren't going to make it. But as soon as the (field) gun goes off, all of that goes away," he said. "The main things I think about is what my time will look like, and how I am able to do on my next race. This time though I only have a single event, so I have to get it done. I have to get it right."
Pride and working hard is another element that drives Rivas, who has rarely lost this season when competing in a 400m dash event.
"It means a lot to me (making state). It shows me that the work and effort paid off," Rivas said. "I just look forward to hopefully placing somewhere in state, and try again next year to make it and get a higher spot."
Bergstrom talked about the path Rivas took to reach state, as he is the first McClain athlete to reach the state level in four years.
"At times I reminded him that is what our goal was, because I would work him hard in practice," Bergstrom said. "I told him 'this is where we need to get to,' and he pushed through the pain and tiredness to get here. I'm very proud of that, and he is a very fine athlete."
Rivas also spoke about how one of, if not, his biggest fan will not be at the state meet, but would have enjoyed the moment.
"My grandfather (John Daniels), who recently passed, he would sit right by the finish line (pointing at the exact spot) waiting for me to cross the line," Rivas said. "I just know he'd be eating this with a spoon if he could have come up to the state meet and see me run."[[In-content Ad]]