Burnet runner Aviles is state meet’s brightest star

CAPTION: Burnet senior middle-distance runner Victor Aviles holds the plaque for being named the Class 4A Track and Field Championships’ Athlete of the Meet. Courtesy photo Burnet Consolidated Independent School District

Stars shined at the Class 4A State Track and Field Championships May 1, none brighter than Burnet senior middle-distance runner Victor Aviles.

The meet was at Mike Myers Stadium at the University of Texas at Austin campus.

After capturing two gold medals and a silver, Aviles was named the Athlete of the Meet.

His gold medals came in the 800 and 1,600 meters in the thinnest of margins. He won the 800 meters in 1 minute and 54.25 seconds, edging Dallas Carter sophomore Charles Anderson, who finished in 1:54.79. Salado sophomore Daniel Anderson was third in 1:56.12.

Anderson led after the first lap, but Aviles flipped the order before the race ended.

It was Aviles’ second state championship in the 800 meters.

The Bulldog followed the same script in the 1,600 meters where he clocked 4:17.88. Silver medalist Ryan Fernandez, a Canyon senior, finished in 4:18.99 and District 24-4A rival Luke Anderson, a Salado senior, took bronze in 4:20.53.

Middle-distance running coach Crystal Shipley noted the Bulldog’s accomplishments are the result of his preparation – and that includes the mental side, too.

“One major difference with Victor and his opponents is how smart he races,” she said. “He has a strategy and everyone knows it. He doesn’t have to lead to know he can win.”

Aviles began the mile running third then went to second for the next two laps before outrunning Fernandez for gold.

His silver was in the 3,200 meters where he finished in 9:15.96. He was running third, fourth and fifth during the eight-lap race. The gold medalist, Canyon senior Lathan Lewter, entered the race with the fastest regional time.

“Victor knew (Lewter) would be the one to beat – pulling ahead early and his endurance was a great strategy to save him from Victor’s kick on the final lap,” Shipley said. “Congratulations to him.”

Shipley further explained how Aviles is meticulous in knowing when to speed up and how to get to the finish line first.

“Others try to get in front hoping to do what (Lewter) did in the 3,200, but the other races don’t allow anyone to get that big of a gap, and they usually run out of gas when Victor switches gears in the final lap,” she said. “(Aviles’) turnover is just different. He has another gear on the final 200 that is extremely incredible and special.”

Though no one enters a race not wanting to win it all, the coach said the Bulldog knew he did his best in the two miles.

“He was disappointed in not getting the gold, but overall, he was happy with his performance,” she said. “He has been in such a great mental space that it really helped going into the other two races.”

He entered the meet with the fastest regional times in the 800 and 1,600 meters and exited leaving no doubt he was the best runner.  

“This is where the experience comes into play at this level,” Shipley said. “He knew what to expect and has had a year to prepare. Victor is a really smart kid and he has put in a lot of time and effort to prepare himself, not only physically but mentally.”