MOORE — During his time at Moore High, track coach Chad Mashburn has learned how to spot talent, whether it’s kids who believe they are destined for greatness or those who don’t even know they have a shred of potential.
Austin Ortega fell into that category last year. As a junior he was set to go through his final years of high school as a regular student. But a chance sighting in gym class changed that plan.”
“In gym class they do a timed mile every year,” Mashburn said. “His time was obviously somewhat better than the rest of the class. It gives you somewhat of an indication the kid can run.”
Mashburn plucked Ortega out of class and asked him to join the cross country team.
“I just pretty much told him he needed to be out here,” Mashburn said. “Sometimes you don’t give kids an opportunity to say no. But this one worked out for the better. Sometimes that doesn’t work.”
Up until that point, Ortega had never been part of a competitive team, much less ever run in a competitive race.
“It was definitely different because I have never ran before in a competitive sport,” Ortega said. “It was real different. The competition stuff was different. I had never been able to expereince that until then.”
But something about the sport spoke to him and he joined the team with season already in progress.
“It started back in a gym class,” Ortega said. “I got to running and started liking it. I was running real hard and after that I was kind of recruited by coach (Ben) Martin. He said I would probably be a pretty good runner for him. I’ve been running ever since then.”
Ortega enters his senior season as Moore’s top cross country threat. Despite having only one year under his belt, he has maneuvered his way his way into that position through hard work and determination.
“Depending on the kids, it may be more surprising,” Mashburn said. “Not with Austin and the way that he has fallen in love with it. He is willing to go out and put in as many miles a week as you ask him to. You kind of have to hold him back. If you let him, he would go out and run 100 miles a week.”
Ortega’s passion on the track has spread into other areas of his life, also.
“I’ve gotten pretty mentally strong since I started running,” Ortega said. “And I train harder than anybody, I like to think. I am just a real hard worker on the track and off the track.”
The MHS cross country team started practice last week, but won’t have its first meet until next month. Yet, Ortega has already started setting goals for himself and the Lions.
“This year I want to be in mid 16 minutes,” Ortega said. “Last year I started off at 18 flat. We have a lot of different talents. Everybody has great potential this year I believe. Everybody just has to put 110 percent forth in their practices. I believe this team needs real strong leaders. Somebody to guide everybody through workouts, somebody to push them. And I definitely want to be one of those big senior leaders.”
With the season yet to begin, there is no telling what type of competition Ortega will be facing this year. But for his coaches, they will just be happy if he continues to do what he does best.
“I just expect him to go run,” Mashburn said. “It’s not any different than what we do every day in practice. He understands what he has to do. He is willing to accept the challenge and get after it. He has to have confidence. I don’t know if he knows how good he is just because he is so inexperienced. If he can believe in himself that he is good enough to run with anyone.”
Michael Kinney 366-3537 mkinney@mooreamerican.com
