Amber Barrios
Sport: Track and field
School: Hasbrouck Heights
Class: Junior. Age: 17
Accomplishment: Barrios was part of four winning relay teams (400 intermediate hurdles, shuttle hurdle, sprint medley and 4×4) as the Aviators won their division title at the Jack Yockers Relays.
By Darren Cooper / NorthJersey.com
Amber Barrios is the cheerleader who flies without ever leaving the ground.
The Hasbrouck Heights junior track sensation refused to try a lot of sports growing up – “My dad wasn’t too happy with that,” she joked – but a middle school field day opened her eyes to the wonders of track and field and she hasn’t looked back.
Now she’s primarily a sprinter for the Aviators, although her skill set keeps evolving. She can handle anything from the 100 to the 800, the hurdles and even some jumping events. She’s also a cheerleader at Hasbrouck Heights.
“I like cheering,” Barrios said. “I have been doing it since flag football. It’s relaxing. I like football games, all the energy that goes into it.”
Barrios channels the bulk of her energy into track and field. She started competing in the sprints, the 100 and 200, before reaching Hasbrouck Heights and veteran coach Rob Brady’s program.
Brady kept her in the sprints, but also threw her into the 400 and then the Aviators 4×400 relay.
Track aficionados know that there are races and then there is the 400. It’s a combined distance/sprint that is only for the best-conditioned, best-prepared runners.
“I think it’s my favorite sprinting event,” Barrios said. “Brady usually tells us to go out the first 100 hard, then dial it back on the back and then in the last 200 give it all you got. I really like the 4×4 when I have a chance to hunt people down.”
Barrios’ best official time in the 400 is 61.3, but she said she’s about a second faster now, she just hasn’t been officially timed in that event yet.
Like everyone else, her spring season last year was derailed by COVID. Then, Brady would send out workouts based on time – not distance – and Barrios would do them faithfully. She would also run hills in Hasbrouck Heights.
In the fall, she decided (in addition to the cheerleading) to go out for cross-country. 3.1 miles is a lot different than the 400 or a sprint, but Barrios said it kept her in shape and she got a lot out of the mental side of the training for the longer distances.
Barrios also maintains a few special superstitions. When she was a freshman, the Aviators would always get bagels before getting on the bus before meets. Now, she makes sure she gets her bagel with cream cheese. She also has black and orange bows for her hair that she puts in before competing.
“I also have bracelets,” Barrios said. “One says if you want it, go get it, another says whatever it takes, and before races I flip them over. It sticks in my head.”
Barrios said she’s willing to compete in anything the team might need her in. That’s a long way from refusing to try sports growing up.
“A lot of my goals are team-oriented,” Barrios said. “We want to win a state sectional and qualify for groups and my personal goals are just to be wherever Brady needs me and be competitive. I am hoping to still drop my times.”
MALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK:Ayzerov striving for more than a state title
Also nominated: Kayla Porter of Bergenfield, Mackenzie Myers of Pompton Lakes, Bella DelValle of Emerson, and Cayla Nista of Mahwah for softball; and Kimi Quayle of NV/Demarest for track and field.
