Passion for sports

Joey Villasenor couldn't have selected a better role model than the late Steve Prefontaine, a former Olympic track athlete who also was a star in college.

"I really look up to Steve Prefontaine," said Villasenor, a Lindhurst High athlete who is participating in five sports in this, his senior year. "Looking at films about him, I've seen his passion for running, and I have that same passion, too."

Prefontaine won three national cross country titles and four 3-mile/5,000-meter collegiate outdoor titles while running for the University of Oregon. He went on to compete in the 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich, Germany, finishing fourth in the 5,000 meters. At the time of his tragic death in 1975, he held every American distance record from 2,000 to 10,000 meters.

Villasenor reveres Prefontaine so much that he lives his life by a quote attributed to Prefontaine — "Anything less than your best is sacrificing the gift."

And Villasenor has the gift. Make that gifts.

Villasenor is wrapping up his high school athletic career in busy fashion. Last fall, he played football and ran cross country for the Blazers. During the winter sports season, he played basketball. And this spring, Villasenor is doing both baseball and track.

In addition, Villasenor is Lindhurst's student body president.

"I like to push myself and see how well I can do," Villasenor said. "I want to see how far I can really go."

Also, he said, by juggling a lot of activities in one school year, including academics, it will help prepare him for lies ahead down the road.

"When I go to college, I'm ready and it won't all seem too overwhelming," he said.

Villasenor said he doesn't want to have any regrets of not doing as much as he can in high school before he moves on to the next level.

"I want to leave high school knowing I did the best I could do," Villasenor said. "I want to leave behind a legacy that people will talk about."

An appearance at the state track and field championships might headline that list.

"My goal is to make it to state," he said.

A year ago, Villasenor just missed by .04 of a second qualifying for the state meet in the 800-meter run. The top three runners at the Sac-Joaquin Section meet qualified and Villasenor placed fourth.

"His lean (at the finish line) got me," Villasenor said of the last qualifier's effort. "I've been working hard to make sure that doesn't happen again this year."

Villasenor is on pace to make a run at a state meet berth. In his second race this spring, Villasenor broke his own school record in the 800, timing 1 minute, 57.12 seconds.

"I want to see if I can get down to 1:54 or 1:55," Villasenor said.

Even though he has participated in other sports this school year, Villasenor has geared everything toward the state track meet.

"I run seven days a week, always," Villasenor said.

Last fall, he ran faster and longer during football practices. He ran and worked out at home after practice, doing lots of jump rope repetitions. Sundays, he ran the steps in the Yuba City High's Honker Stadium and also ran around its all-weather track.

Villasenor had hoped to run in the state cross country meet last fall but unfortunately, the Section meet was held the day after Lindhurst's title football game, "and that game really beat up my legs" after playing wide receiver and defensive back.

He continued his workout regiment at home and in Yuba City during basketball season. Sometimes, he would get up at 5:30 in the morning to work out before heading off to a 7 a.m. leadership class at school.

His training this spring has continued at the frantic pace. He first works out on the track before going to baseball practice. Villasenor said the Blazers baseball coach has been very understanding. In fact, Villasenor said he really had not planned on going out for baseball until the coach talked him into it.

"Baseball is kind of like my cool-down sport," Villasenor said. "In football, you do a lot of running and the same in basketball. But in baseball, you have to wait for someone to hit you the ball. It's more slow paced.

"Sometimes when I'm in the outfield, I'll say, 'Come on, hit me the ball so I can start running around,'" he added.

Villasenor said his favorite sport is track.

"You don't have to depend on anyone else on your team," he said. "You have to push yourself. If you lose, it's not anyone else's fault but your own. You only have yourself to blame."

Looking back at his high school career, Villasenor said the highlight was winning back-to-back Sac-Joaquin Section football championships. Other highlights include the Blazers winning the Golden Empire League track title his junior year and winning the GEL cross country crown last fall.

Once his high school career is over, Villasenor hopes to continue in athletics at the collegiate level. He's considering several different programs, but is leaning toward Sacramento State, where he will run track and possibly cross country. Or, he might try and play football in the fall and then run track in the spring.

"They've got a real good track program," he said of Sac State. "They've won back-to-back indoor titles."

Another reason for choosing Sac State is that it's close to home.

"I'd be able to give back and help the community," Villasenor said, adding he hopefully wants to help train young athletes in the area.

Also, his younger brother, Diego, will be entering high school in the fall and Villasenor said he would be able to train him if he were close by.

Family is important to Villasenor. What little spare time he has Villasenor spends with his family, when he's not doing home work to keep up his grades.

"I wouldn't be where I am today without my family," Villasenor said, noting his mother, Irma, helps him eat right and provides nutritious supplements, while his dad, Jose, coordinates his workouts. "And I get my little brother to help out by timing me."

Contact sports reporter Richard Myers at 749-4714 or rmyers@appeal-democrat.com