SCARBOROUGH, Maine — James “Chico” Hernandez of Washburn was one of more than 100 athletes from nine states and Canada who competed at the Maine State Senior Games Track and Field Championships, held July 29 at Scarborough High School.
Hernandez, who serves as an assistant track and field coach and head wrestling coach at Caribou High School, medalled in all six events in which he competed.
The 63-year-old took gold medals in his division in the javelin, triple jump and long jump, along with silver medals in the shot put and high jump and a bronze in the discus.
“I have been working out and practicing religiously in the discus event and it is all starting to pay off,” Hernandez said. ”I had a good week of practicing prior to this event and I was a little thrown off being at a different facility, but everybody else has to do it on the same field.”
Hernandez defeated last year’s shot put state champion from New Hampshire.
“It is a satisfying feeling for me to know I am improving, especially in the discus and shot put events,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez is better known for his exploits on the wrestling mat. He competed in the Sunflower State Games in Kansas in mid July and garnered numerous awards.
Still, he has competed in various track and field competitions over the past 50 years.
“I know I am a much better wrestler than I am a track and field athlete, but it’s still a very humbling feeling and always an experience for me,” he said.
Hernandez has been featured on a box of Wheaties Energy Crunch Cereal and was also featured in Sports Illustrated’s and CNN/SI’s “Faces in the Crowd.” In October 2008, Hernandez was featured in the Scholastic textbook publication on the state of Maine called, “Maine – America the Beautiful,” and was featured in Discover Maine magazine in 2010.
He has been inducted into the AAU National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Disney World, the Maine Sports Hall of Fame and the University of Maine at Presque Isle Athletic Hall of Fame.
