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With just one event remaining and a victory well in hand, Nogales' coach was still working hard.

Coach Manny Gatica's voice could be heard from the infield, the track and echoing throughout the Sabino bleachers:

"C'mon girls! Let's go! Finish strong!"

And the Apaches did finish strong with wins in the 800 meters, the 3,200 relay and the 1,600 relay to notch an 89-51 victory over the Sabercats.

Nogales distance runner Adelice Legleu said Gatica's persistent encouragement is what gives the Apaches an edge.

"He works us so hard, sometimes we even feel like it's a little too much," Legleu said. "At the time, we get mad about it. Then we come to races, and we always praise him for it."

Legleu ran the first leg of the 3,200 relay and used her two laps to gain a huge lead. Then, with each Nogales runner, the lead kept extending farther and farther until the Apaches had lapped Sabino 200 meters before the finish.

Nogales finished in 10 minutes 38 seconds, nearly two minutes faster than Sabino's 12:31.

Susan Melendez was a part of Nogales' relay team as well as contributing to a win in the 400 relay and taking the 800 meters. The senior said she felt bad about winning by such a large margin.

"I guess you could say we try not to do that," she said. "But on the other hand, we're not going to slow down for them."

Melendez finished just in front of Legleu in the 800 meters with a time of 2:23.9.

In the boys, Sabino earned a lopsided 106-35 victory.

Alex Evans helped Sabino with first-place finishes in the 800 relay and the 800 meters but said he said he thought Nogales was a tough opponent.

"They were really tough at regionals for cross country," Evans said. "In girls, they won at regionals. In boys, we beat them, but it wasn't easy."

A common emphasis for both teams seemed to be preparing for next fall's cross country season.

"In all honesty, I kind of don't like track," Gatica said. "We're just using it to get our speed for cross country, and that's where my real big focus is — to get these girls ready for next year."

Gatica, who has taught and coached in Nogales for 14 years, lives in Sierra Vista.

"I commute every single day 140 miles," he said. "It's tough, but I'm committed to the kids, and they are committed to me. It's that bond between coach and the athlete that makes it worthwhile."