The Star is profiling Southern Arizona high school athletes whose seasons were cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. Each high school was asked to nominate an exceptional spring sport athlete who exemplifies greatness on and off the field, court or track.
As Arizona鈥檚 reigning Division III champion in the 3,200 meters and the fastest returner in the 1,600 meters, Abraham Valenzuela will have a few more eyes on him when he returns to Palo Verde High School for his senior year in the fall.
The 17-year-old has already caught the attention of scouts at multiple Division I schools, including Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Missouri, Louisville, Army, Navy, UNC-Charlotte, Cincinnati, and Boston University.
鈥淎braham is a leader on our team and is the prime example to emulate,鈥漵aid Palo Verde athletic director Jason Karn. 鈥淗e has a deep desire and focus that is rarely found in high school athletes.鈥
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As the only distance runner on Palo Verde鈥檚 team, Valenzuela does all of his training on his own. He also plays soccer and runs cross country.
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In track, Valenzuela set personal goals to repeat his 3,200-meter championship and add the 1,600-meter championship (he finished second at state last year).
So it鈥檚 really no surprise that the thing he misses most after two months of quarantine is the solitary sport of running.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 totally the first thing I miss. It was going amazing until the virus happened and everything went down,鈥 Valenzuela said. 鈥淚鈥檓 just starting to run again, but I鈥檒l give it everything.鈥
If Valenzuela has his choice, he鈥檒l be attending North Carolina for college.
Abraham Valenzuela is the state鈥檚 reigning Division III champion in the 3,200 meters. He has recently resumed his workouts.
鈥淚 really want to go over there,鈥 Valenzuela said. 鈥淚 want to challenge myself with another division and a different culture.鈥
His second choice is Wisconsin, which as a Division I school in America鈥檚 heartland, will also provide him with both.
鈥淭he weather鈥檚 pretty nice too,鈥 Valenzuela said of Wisconsin. 鈥淧retty much a runner鈥檚 favorite weather.鈥
After his goals of making a return to state blew up in mid-March, Valenzuela said that his motivation was 鈥渃ompletely done.鈥 He took a break from running.
鈥淚 hadn鈥檛 been doing anything at all, just sleeping and drawing,鈥 he said. 鈥淎nd I feel badly because I haven鈥檛 done anything. But I started running yesterday for a few minutes, so I鈥檓 starting to get into condition.鈥
For a student whose high school career has consisted of back-to-back sports, Valenzuela said having the rug pulled out from under him left him in a bit of a rut.
And as coronavirus-related restrictions are relaxed and life begins to roll back to 鈥渘ormal,鈥 Valenzuela is looking forward to starting his senior season.
Abraham Valenzuela, a junior on Palo Verde鈥檚 soccer, cross country and track team, took a break from running when the track season was cut short. He鈥檚 back training with a whole new set of goals for the 2020-21 season.
Pre-coronavirus, Valenzuela had the personal goal to run a mile in 4 minutes 10 seconds or less and a nine-minute two-mile run, Karn said.
When he鈥檚 not running or studying 鈥 Valenzuela is eying a career in architecture 鈥 he can likely be found in the dance studio.
Valenzuela takes advanced dance classes and often performs his own choreographed routines during pep rallies.
鈥淚 love dancing. I always dance,鈥 Valenzuela said. 鈥淭he one I normally dance is choreographed hip-hop and robot and different styles.鈥
Valenzuela said he can鈥檛 wait to get back, and to be better than ever.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 wait to just hang out with friends and go running with friends,鈥 he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e just missed hanging out with my friends, eating chicken and everything else we used to do.鈥
The Star is profiling Southern Arizona high school athletes whose seasons were cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. Here's a look at the athletes who have been featured so far.
