Bloomfield sophomore Ryli Heckman wins two state hurdle titles after ankle injury

Bloomfield sophomore Ryli Heckman turned a fractured ankle into one of the strongest performances by a San Juan County athlete at the Class 4A state meet, sweeping both hurdle races in Albuquerque and giving Bloomfield a champion built on recovery, patience and speed.

At the New Mexico Activities Association Class 4A State Track and Field Championships at the University of New Mexico Track & Field Complex, Heckman won the 100-meter hurdles in 14.97 seconds and followed with the 300-meter hurdles in 46.67. The two golds capped a season that showed how far the Bloomfield High School runner had come since she was an eighth grader qualifying for state and working her way back from the ankle injury.

Heckman’s rise was not sudden so much as steadily earned. In the district meet that sent her to state, she won the 100-meter hurdles in 14.82 seconds and cleared 5-0 to take first in the high jump, a combination that gave Bloomfield valuable points across multiple events. MileSplit lists her 2026 outdoor bests at 14.76 in the 100 hurdles, 46.67 in the 300 hurdles, 5-0 in the high jump, 12.92 in the 100 meters and 27.57 in the 200.

Bloomfield head track and field coach Steve Gutierrez said the breakthrough came when Heckman finally mastered the three-step pattern between hurdles, calling it a "game changer." That adjustment helped turn a promising young runner into a state champion who could handle pressure, pace and technique in one of the meet’s most demanding events.

The title sweep also highlights how much Heckman improved in a single year. As a freshman, she finished fourth in the 100-meter hurdles in 16.2 seconds while racing against three seniors. After that, the sophomore season brought a faster stride, cleaner hurdle rhythm and two state golds. Heckman said the jump from one season to the next felt "kind of crazy."

Her performance stood out even in a strong Class 4A field that saw Albuquerque Academy sweep both the boys and girls team titles. For Bloomfield, Heckman’s double win was more than a personal milestone. It was a reminder that a local athlete from northwestern New Mexico could come back from injury, sharpen her craft and finish the season at the top of the state podium.