State Track Feature: Rivas returns to state
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
For the second straight year, McClain's Luis Rivas has raced his way into the 400-meter dash in the Division II OHSAA State Track and Field Championships, but this time, the senior had to overcome injuries, along with top competition, to reach the biggest stage in the high school track community.
Rivas, a two-sport athlete at McClain, has seen much success in the past four years as he's been a part of three consecutive South Central Ohio League boys soccer championships, while being named All-State in soccer this past fall. Add that with his success on the track and it equals out to a great high school sports career, which will be capped off with his second consecutive trip to the state championships in track.
"Luis came in with high expectations," McClain boys track and field head coach Bob Bergstrom said. "We knew he could be our team leader, and he took on extra events and became the main point person on our team. We expected him to do well most of the time."
[[In-content Ad]]On the track this year, the senior lost just once in the 400-meter event, which came at the Athens regionals last Saturday, but with this trip to state, Rivas has another goal besides placing in state this season.
That is to break the school's 400m dash record that was set by Corey King in 1983 at 49.40.
"It feels good to get back to state," Rivas said. "I worked hard all year and practiced hard, so I kind of expected to get back … it feels good. It's different than last year. I'm not as nervous as last year because I was so nervous last year I couldn't think straight, but this year ... once I get there I'll be nervous, but now I know what I have to do when I get there.
"I got my personal best last week, and I'm already better than I was last year by a week, plus I messed up my hamstring … I messed up my legs this year, problems I didn't have last year. The injuries are frustrating … I have to do everything carefully and add in more stretching and ice."
Rivas spoke about frustration with the leg injuries this season because he said he feels he could do better but is glad he accomplished his expectation of returning to the state stage.
"I have to maybe do not what I want to do because I have to worry about not wanting to pull my hamstring. This year, differently, I did the 100m instead of the 4x4 … but preparation-wise, I've done everything the same. In the winter, we went to some indoor meets. I started a little earlier this year and lifted weights."
"I don't know what it was this year, but he's had twinges with the groin, quad and a tweak in the hamstring," Bergstrom said. "That hurt at regionals because we told him to go fast, but not too fast because we still had the state meet.
"He's been more serious this year … he's worked hard. He's a great leader for our program. It's going to be hard to replace him … we'll have to retool next year without him."
But the feeling of accomplishing the feat of making the state championships is something that hasn't gotten old for Rivas.
"I guess it was expected for me to make it, just by looking at the times. I'm happy I'm going to state, but I wanted to win the regionals really bad," Rivas said.
At the Athens regionals, Rivas was second at 49.83, the same time he ran at the state meet last season. At the districts, his first-place run was 50.77, and at the SCOL meet, that first-place run was timed at 52.75.
"Not winning regionals makes me want to work even harder at state," Rivas said. "I have more determination now, but I just wanted to win all the way through to state, and I didn't accomplish that."
As stated … this has been a very successful year for Rivas, including breaking the McClain Invitational record for the 400m dash, while winning multiple meet medalists.
This year, combined with his past achievements, adds up to a stellar sporting career at MHS.
"I love soccer … I'm going to college (Otterbein University) to play soccer, it's just always been there," he said. "Track has been very important for preparation with other sports … I love it. I love getting better, seeing improvement and track has given me a drive to always be better because you are always fighting against yourself."
After racing a 400m run, Rivas said he has people ask him how he does that and how does he sprint that long … his response is "I don't know."
"Something just takes over in my mind ... adrenaline or something because you see something in front of you, and you just want to chase it around the track until you end up at the finish line. I just love the competition," Rivas said. "I don't hear much when I run … I'm zoned coming around the final corner, and I see nothing but the finish line.
"It takes everything out of you to sprint the first 300 meters, then have to put it into sixth gear to get down with a convincing time to finish the race well. It's over like that … it's mind-boggling how it feels."
Rivas ended with what it has meant to him to represent McClain High School.
"Being a McClain Tiger means very much to me," he said. "I love the school, I love what it has done for me," he said. "My coaches and teammates have been great, and this community has been great to me … it's great to represent McClain."
Rivas, a two-sport athlete at McClain, has seen much success in the past four years as he's been a part of three consecutive South Central Ohio League boys soccer championships, while being named All-State in soccer this past fall. Add that with his success on the track and it equals out to a great high school sports career, which will be capped off with his second consecutive trip to the state championships in track.
"Luis came in with high expectations," McClain boys track and field head coach Bob Bergstrom said. "We knew he could be our team leader, and he took on extra events and became the main point person on our team. We expected him to do well most of the time."
[[In-content Ad]]On the track this year, the senior lost just once in the 400-meter event, which came at the Athens regionals last Saturday, but with this trip to state, Rivas has another goal besides placing in state this season.
That is to break the school's 400m dash record that was set by Corey King in 1983 at 49.40.
"It feels good to get back to state," Rivas said. "I worked hard all year and practiced hard, so I kind of expected to get back … it feels good. It's different than last year. I'm not as nervous as last year because I was so nervous last year I couldn't think straight, but this year ... once I get there I'll be nervous, but now I know what I have to do when I get there.
"I got my personal best last week, and I'm already better than I was last year by a week, plus I messed up my hamstring … I messed up my legs this year, problems I didn't have last year. The injuries are frustrating … I have to do everything carefully and add in more stretching and ice."
Rivas spoke about frustration with the leg injuries this season because he said he feels he could do better but is glad he accomplished his expectation of returning to the state stage.
"I have to maybe do not what I want to do because I have to worry about not wanting to pull my hamstring. This year, differently, I did the 100m instead of the 4x4 … but preparation-wise, I've done everything the same. In the winter, we went to some indoor meets. I started a little earlier this year and lifted weights."
"I don't know what it was this year, but he's had twinges with the groin, quad and a tweak in the hamstring," Bergstrom said. "That hurt at regionals because we told him to go fast, but not too fast because we still had the state meet.
"He's been more serious this year … he's worked hard. He's a great leader for our program. It's going to be hard to replace him … we'll have to retool next year without him."
But the feeling of accomplishing the feat of making the state championships is something that hasn't gotten old for Rivas.
"I guess it was expected for me to make it, just by looking at the times. I'm happy I'm going to state, but I wanted to win the regionals really bad," Rivas said.
At the Athens regionals, Rivas was second at 49.83, the same time he ran at the state meet last season. At the districts, his first-place run was 50.77, and at the SCOL meet, that first-place run was timed at 52.75.
"Not winning regionals makes me want to work even harder at state," Rivas said. "I have more determination now, but I just wanted to win all the way through to state, and I didn't accomplish that."
As stated … this has been a very successful year for Rivas, including breaking the McClain Invitational record for the 400m dash, while winning multiple meet medalists.
This year, combined with his past achievements, adds up to a stellar sporting career at MHS.
"I love soccer … I'm going to college (Otterbein University) to play soccer, it's just always been there," he said. "Track has been very important for preparation with other sports … I love it. I love getting better, seeing improvement and track has given me a drive to always be better because you are always fighting against yourself."
After racing a 400m run, Rivas said he has people ask him how he does that and how does he sprint that long … his response is "I don't know."
"Something just takes over in my mind ... adrenaline or something because you see something in front of you, and you just want to chase it around the track until you end up at the finish line. I just love the competition," Rivas said. "I don't hear much when I run … I'm zoned coming around the final corner, and I see nothing but the finish line.
"It takes everything out of you to sprint the first 300 meters, then have to put it into sixth gear to get down with a convincing time to finish the race well. It's over like that … it's mind-boggling how it feels."
Rivas ended with what it has meant to him to represent McClain High School.
"Being a McClain Tiger means very much to me," he said. "I love the school, I love what it has done for me," he said. "My coaches and teammates have been great, and this community has been great to me … it's great to represent McClain."