CASA BLANCA - After serving an in-school suspension for violating team and school rules, Laguna-Acoma's Wayne Aragon hopes to erase the recent past for future glory.

Aragon will represent the Hawks at the 3A State Track Meet beginning today at 8 a.m.

“I did everything I needed to do and now I'm back,” Aragon said recently.

By noon today, Aragon will know if it was enough. He competes in the 100-meter hurdles starting just after 11 a.m.

Talking about his brief dismissal from the track team, Aragon said he knows what he did was wrong, but he was just protecting a friend.

“He's my bro and he's done stuff for me and I've done stuff for him,” Aragon said.

Joining Aragon is Tyler Pino, who qualified in the 3,200-meter run. Pino's race is scheduled for today at 5:30 p.m.

Justin Gallegos was the last qualifier for the 3A pole vault at a height of 7-feet 6-inches. The pole vault for 3A boys gets underway today at 9 a.m.

Isaiah Holmes made it to state by getting second place in the triple jump at the district meet last weekend. Holmes' event starts at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Jeffrey Gaco competes in the long jump starting today at 9 a.m. His qualifying mark is just over three feet less than Dan Fuller from Dexter, the favorite in the event.

Mario Charlie and Ben Kirksey round out the Hawks' boy's team members that qualified for the state meet.

Charlie and Kirksey compete in the javelin starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday.

Competing for the Hawks' girls' team is Nicole Luna in the 3,200-meter race and the 1,600-meter race. The 3,200-meter race is scheduled for 4:38 p.m. on Saturday and the 1,600-meters is today at 12:04 p.m.

Domenique Nunez competes in the shot put today at 9 a.m. and then the discus at 2 p.m. later in the day.

Brianne Chavez qualified for the pole vault at 5-foot. She kicks off the event as the last qualifier in the event starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

The Hawks' 1,600-meter sprint medley relay team - Brandi Ahmie, Brianne Chavez, Lois Marmon and Amanda Pedro - run today a 3:35 p.m.

The 3,4 and 5A State Track Meet starts today at the University of New Mexico Track and Soccer Field located on east side of the University Football Stadium on Avenida Cesar Chavez.

By Will Kie

Beacon senior sportswriter