newsminer.com

Ben Gallegos may have been the fastest hurdler and strongest triple-jumper at the Region VI Track and Field Championships Saturday, but he didn’t place first and he didn’t score a single point.

That’s because Gallegos is a student with the Interior Distance Education of Alaska home-school program, and though he trains with the North Pole High School track team, he doesn’t meet the academic requirements of Region VI to score for his team.

Over the span of Friday and Saturday, Gallegos technically placed first in both hurdling events and the triple jump.

In the 100-meter hurdles for Class 4A boys, Gallegos ran the fastest time at 15.95 seconds, but first place instead went to Ian Jensen of Lathrop High School in 17.41.

Later Saturday afternoon, Gallegos edged West Valley’s Stephen Fink in the 300-meter hurdles by .19 seconds, crossing the line in 43.37.

“I’m lucky Stephen was behind me,” the out-of-breath Gallegos said just after hugging his competitor at the finish line. “I could hear his footsteps behind me the whole time, and that always pushes me.”

Though Fink would walk away from the meet with the hardware in hand, Gallegos and Fink maintain a friendly rivalry.

“I don’t really mind not getting a medal,” Gallegos said. “It’s not about that for me because at the end of the day I still know I won.”

The 17-year-old admitted he also liked the adrenaline rush but is glad he channels it into something positive.

“I love the independence in track,” he said. “Not only is it a great way to stay in shape but it’s helped me become self-reliant. Oh, and winning feels great, too.”

Though he says that self-reliance is not one his best attributes, he admits he’s learning more about how important it is have a good work ethic.

Five days a week, Gallegos wakes up, eats breakfast and sits down with his mother, who also acts as his tutor.

“She knows how to push my buttons to get me to do my work,” Gallegos said. “But I’m the only one who knows how to wiggle out of it sometimes, too.”

His mother has a masters degree in education.

After spending most of the day surrounded by books and assignments, Gallegos drives from Chena Hot Springs road to the North Pole track where he practices for two hours a day.

He attended North Pole for his first two years but opted out this past year for a change of pace.

“I just wanted something different. I thought I could get more done if I stayed home. I could work at my own pace,” he said.

Patriots coach Gillian Henert is eager to get Gallegos back on the North Pole team for his senior year.

“He brings so much to this team,” she said. “Ben is actually a perfectionist, and he wants to get it right every single time.”

Gallegos has acted as a mentor to some of the younger hurdlers, according to Henert.

“They’re always trying to race him and he spends time helping them out almost every day in practice,” she said.

While he considers himself a very optimistic person, Gallegos said he relies on his coach to motivate him some days.

“She’s the only one who pushes me to train” he said.

Not only is he an avid athlete, but Gallegos also admits to being quite the musician. He plays three different guitars, the piano and the drums.

Next fall Gallegos plans to attend North Pole high school full-time. He’s hoping to be accepted to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where he wants to study aeronautical engineering.

But for now, Gallegos is focusing his attention on next weekend’s state meet, where he will compete in the large schools division in as many as three events (provided his region results in the triple jump and both hurdles are good enough to qualify).

Despite being shut out by Region VI for its titles, Gallegos will be eligible to win a state championship if he hurdles fast enough or jumps far enough.