Different voices, same standard

Practice moved the same way it always does. Reps, resets and the sound of throws hitting the ground carried across the Field of Dreams. 

“It’s very peaceful for me,” Sofia Herrera said. 

That calm shows up in her approach. Around her, the energy builds differently. One voice loud. One steady. Both pushing the same standard. 

Herrera and Emily Alanis don’t lead the same way, but together, they’ve become the foundation of Las Cruces High’s throwing group. Herrera, the returning state champion in Javelin, didn’t enter last season with expectations. 

“It was a complete shock, honestly,” she said. “I went into state just thinking of it being just for fun.” 

The result shifted her perspective, showing her what she was capable of beyond basketball, her primary sport, and raising the standard heading into her senior year, where her focus has since turned toward building on that performance and pushing past it. 

“I’ve been trying to beat my personal record from last year,” Herrera said. “I try to block it out that I was even state champion. I’m out here for fun.” 

 Her approach stays technical, built on timing and positioning rather than power alone, with each throw carrying a sense of control that matches her demeanor. While Herrera works toward repeating at the top, Alanis has carved her role across multiple events. Competing in shot put, discus and javelin, she embraces the workload and the challenge that comes with it. 

“I just like the competition. I like where I get to push myself more,” Alanis said. 

She’s taken on a role that centers on keeping the group connected, especially for younger athletes adjusting to the pace of the sport. 

“Honestly, team building,” she said. “I like to make sure no one’s apart.” 

Head coach Jennifer Eatmon sees the contrast in how both athletes carry themselves, with Alanis bringing a quieter presence while Herrera sets the tone more vocally. 

“Emily is the quiet energy,” Eatmon said. “Sofia’s more like, ‘Let’s get to work.’” 

That balance has worked in their favor, giving the group both a steady presence and a voice that keeps practices moving with purpose. Herrera’s goals continue to stretch beyond local meets — something Eatmon said separates her approach. 

“She wants to be number one in the state,” Eatmon said. 

Alanis, meanwhile, has developed through accountability, building consistency by recognizing mistakes, and correcting them in the moment. 

“She realizes when she does something bad and she tries to fix it,” Eatmon said. 

That mindset, paired with the work both athletes put in outside of practice, has stood out across the program. 

“It’s hard to find kids that push themselves like that,” assistant coach Valeria Valtierra said. 

Herrera follows a structured plan on her own time, while Alanis continues to build through extra work as well. The effort beyond practice, Valtierra said, is what separates them. 

The season itself has required adjustments. With Las Cruces High’s track under construction, practices have shifted across locations, adding challenges to routine and access. 

“It is kind of hard being not at home,” Eatmon said. 

Even with those changes, the expectations haven’t shifted. 

Through a different setting and an altered routine, Herrera and Alanis have continued to lead in their own ways, setting a tone that the rest of the group follows without needing to be told twice.