Eleven-year-old Apollonia “Apple” Jauregui of Roswell placed eighth in a national discus competition held in California.
Jauregui, an incoming fifth grader at Gateway Christian School earned a spot last month in the 2026 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships from Monday, July 27 to Sunday, Aug. 2 at Cerritos College in Norwalk, California, where she competed in discus against 27 of the nation’s top young athletes.
She participated in the Girls 11-12 division, throwing for 21.76 meters for the eighth-place finish.
Her mother, Natalie Carrasco, said she deserves this because of how much she trained.
“I am so proud of her,” Carrasco said. “She worked really hard and had to compete in the heat, which shows how committed she is.”
Appreciation of supporters
Jauregui has been throwing discus since she was nine years old, thanks to her father, Abel Jauregui, getting her involved in the sport. She said she wants to participate in nationals again next year and will practice at the Wool Bowl consistently to prepare.
She also said her best friend since first grade, Kayli Aguilar, and her brother, Michael Apodaca, have been among her biggest supporters throughout her journey.
Carrasco said she is thankful to Juliana Halvorson for setting up a booster account for Jauregui at Pioneer Bank, 3000 North Main St. The account is called “Apollonia Jauregui Booster”.
Trip experience
Jauregui, Carrasco and Apodaca are the ones who made the trip. After the competition, they made the 107-mile drive to the San Diego Zoo.
Jauregui said this was a great experience because she wants to be a zoologist when she grows up.
“I have wanted to be a zoologist since I was seven years old, so going to the zoo was really fun,” Jauregui said. “My favorite animals to see were the ducks.”
Jauregui said she enjoyed being part of the competition and liked touring California.
“It was great competing in nationals,” Jauregui said. “My family and I also wandered around California since we’ve never been.”
Marshall Mecham can be reached at (915) 232-1793 or on X @mecham_marshall. Mecham serves with the New Mexico Local News Fellowship, which places emerging journalists in newsrooms across the state. Learn more at www.newmexicolocalnewsfellowships.org.
