By Jessica Fontenot
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Death, and being in the absence of those who died, always makes us fully realize and remember the actions those people have done while living. On Nov. 4, a memorial service was held for MHS Alumnus Gordian F. Boteilho-Torres, who held records in the Oahu Interscholastic Association JV boys track team. After his death on Oct. 23, he is remembered by his family and friends.
“I feel like we were more like teammates who worked hard together, learned from each other and made one another better at our sport,” said Edwin Alfaro, MHS alumnus and former track coach, who was a sophomore when he met Boteilho-Torres in Boteilho-Torres’ freshman year.
Boteilho-Torres had been in track throughout his high school career, where he trained as a sprinter, a hurdler and a long jumper. It was in his sophomore year that he broke MHS records in the 300-meter hurdles and 4×100-meter relay. When he graduated in 1983, he joined Alfaro, who graduated in the year before and became a coach for the MHS track team. “Although a record like that deserves to last forever, I think (Boteilho-Torres) would be proud if our team betters it someday,” commented track head coach Nathan Aragaki. “I would be happy, yet indebted to him and the heritage he forged for all MHS track athletes to follow.”
As well as being a sprinter, Boteilho-Torres became a distance runner when he joined cross country in his sophomore and junior years in the off-season of track. It wasn’t until then that his talent as both a sprinter and distance runner was realized. “Unlike most of the sprinters who also ran cross country during the fall, (Boteilho-Torres) was actually a decent distance runner,” Alfaro commented, continuing, “He had a natural stride that benefitted him in middle and long distance races.”
Through support from his family, such as his brother Bryan Boteilho, who was also in track, his fellow runners like Alfaro and his own dedication to the sport, Boteilho-Torres was able to do his best in both track and cross country. “Training for track is very hard,” said Freshman Jakob Dewald, a distance runner in track. “You must be a dedicated runner to succeed in it.”
As a varied track runner and distance runner in cross country, Boteilho-Torres’ death leaves a legacy for runners in both sports, as his 4×100-meter record is still upheld today.
