Ten years ago no one could have predicted that a kid from a small town ten minutes from Taos would be claiming Mountain West Conference cross country runner of the week awards.
But that's exactly what UNM cross-country runner Ben Ortega did this week. He earned the award after he edged out Bashar Ibrahim of University of Texas El Paso-by 2.78 seconds at the Lori Fitzgerald Invitational in Santa Teresa, NM last weekend.
As a child growing up in a small northern New Mexico town called Arroyo Seco, the 20-year old junior had other things on his mind besides running mile after grueling mile.
"We played a lot of basketball," Ortega said. "My elementary school was this little tiny way out in the boonies place. We played a lot of kickball and stuff like that but I had no idea what cross country or track was until my freshman year in high school."
Ortega's first experiences as a runner consisted of running from his parents, as they tried to get him to go to school. The adolescent Ortega was not the most dedicated student. Working and running around with his friends was more important to him.
As he got older, Ortega figured out that he needed something else.
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It was in his freshman year at Taos High School that Ortega decided to go out for the track team.
"I ran JV track for Taos High School and I wasn't that good," Ortega said. "But I ran all summer that summer, and my coach saw that I was interested in it and he helped me along that next fall. When I came back for cross country I was a lot better of a runner."
Ortega kept running. His first victory came in a Junior Varsity cross-country event in his sophomore year. After that, his running abilities kept getting better. In his junior year, Ortega won the New Mexico state title setting a state record in cross-country.
Soon, Ortega was faced with the decision of what college to attend following his senior year. There were opportunities to go to school in California. But in the end the decision was easy.
"I went to go check out a couple schools in California and Oklahoma State but I looked around and I didn't really like it," Ortega said. "I'm happiest here. I thought I could develop my abilities as a runner best here."
With all of his accolades and accomplishments Ortega is proud to be part of a team that could be very good this year. Last week the Lobos cruised to a 36-point victory over second-place UTEP.
Ortega came across the finish line first but there were several other UNM runners close behind.
"There is a lot of competitiveness among us," Ortega said. "We push each other. Sometimes it gets a little out of control but then again that's good. We are there for each other and that's what matters."
Ortega said he wouldn't be happy this year unless the team makes the NCAA Championships. In running, however, there are always personal goals that go along with the team's goals like the Olympics. Ortega said he hopes to represent the United States. At this point that could be a possibility. Last year, he was only 11 seconds off the pace to qualify for the 10,000-meter Olympic trials in track - at the age of 19.
In the summer Ortega likes go home and train in the picturesque mountains of the Taos Ski Valley, which is practically located in his backyard.
This past summer he was logging 140-mile weeks. Ortega said home is somewhere he likes to be. But right now he is concentrating on the task at hand.
"I want our team to go to the NCAA championships and I ran more miles that I ever ran all summer in the interest of helping us get there," Ortega said.
