RGC's Saenz throwing for Mexico

If Rio Grande City’s Stephen Saenz makes the 2012 Olympic Games, he’ll do it representing Mexico and not the United States.

Saenz, a two-time state champion shot-putter at RGC currently at Auburn, got his Mexican dual citizenship last December and first threw representing Mexico two weeks ago in Puerto Rico. He was eligible for Mexican citizenship through his maternal grandmother, who is from Mexico.

Unquestionably, Saenz’s decision gives him a clearer path to next summer’s Olympics. Before this choice, he was the No. 12 shot-putter in the United States when only three can go to the Games. Now, he’s the clear No. 1 for Mexico, holder of the national record and a favorite to win the national championship next week in Mexico City and qualify for October’s Pan American Games in Guadalajara.

“I definitely have more opportunities,” said Saenz, who will compete for the state of Sonora in the national championships. “That definitely factored into it.”

His father, Ricardo, echoed that.

“For the U.S., I’d say he’s got a good five-to-six feet of improvement to have a chance to compete to make it for the U.S.,” Ricardo Saenz said. “He’s still years away from being able to compete for them, so going to Mexico would give him a lot more international experience a lot quicker.”

To reach the Olympics, Stephen Saenz, 20, will have to do more than just protect his No. 1 ranking. The Olympic standard for the shot put is 20 meters, or about 65 1/2 feet. Right now, he’s at 19.82 meters (65 feet) and will need to make up that difference regardless of his national ranking.

If he does that and stays healthy, he has a good chance to be in London next summer.

“It’s definitely exciting. I’m trying not to think about it because I’ve got some of these meets coming up,” Stephen Saenz said. “Definitely pretty excited about it. Competing in 2012 is a dream.”

Stephen Saenz still has three years of eligibility left at Auburn and he will continue to compete for the Tigers. He will continue to be coached by Jerry Clayton, who has guided 14 individual NCAA champions, and 34 international-team competitors.

And, if he wants, Stephen Saenz could also try to eventually compete for Team USA at the Olympics. Because of his dual citizenship, he said would be eligible to compete for the United States after sitting out two years of international competition.

But that doesn’t sound like something he’s interested in.

“Mexico’s given me this opportunity to throw for them so I’m probably going to stick with them,” Stephen Saenz said. “They have helped me out a lot. To go back to the U.S. would be kind of bad. I think I’ll stick with Mexico for the long haul.”

Brian Sandalow covers high school sports for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436 or via email at bsandalow@themonitor.com.