It’s been a banner track and field season for Newcastle Racer Inigo Burguete. He won 22 medals in competition this year — 14 gold, two silver and six bronze.
He had an 800m run time of 2:02.75 at Regionals, and then had a seven second decrease in the same run at the State meet, a personal best of 1:55.77.
It would have been a banner year for anyone, but nine months ago, Inigo was still in his home country of Spain.
The Racer has been visiting and living in Newcastle the past year with the ASSE International Student Exchange Program as a guest of Mark and Donna Baldwin of Newcastle. Inigo returns to his hometown of Pamplona, Spain, on June 2.
Inigo describes having an exceptional time in Newcastle, and said his plans when he returns home are to continue competing in track and field. His 800m run time at State has qualified him for the National Championships in Spain.
During his time at Newcastle High School, Inigo, a junior, has also competed in cross country and as a member of the Academic Team. In cross country, he was able to run at Regionals, and the Academic Team made it to the Area meet where they finished in fourth place.
Inigo was a part of the Newcastle relay teams that has been setting school records, and he took part in the invitation- only Meet of Champions at North Rock Creek High School in Shawnee on May 16. He was also named ‘someone to watch’ in high school track and field by the Oklahoman sports writers.
During his time in Oklahoma, Inigo has become close friends with Newcastle juniors Rhett Carter, Steven Whitmore, and Marko Ishchenko, a foreign exchange student from Ukraine.He said his time competing in track and field has been special.
Inigo said, “The track team has been like a second family for me here. All the people have been really nice. When I came here, people said to me that it may not be the greatest place, but the people make the difference. I will miss 100% of the people that I have met.”
Inigo said he was very fortunate to have been part of the exchange program. He said in Spain, 15,000 students apply for the program, but only 400 of those get actual scholarships.
“I found out about it because a friend told me about it,” Inigo said. “I applied and got lucky enough, and got Newcastle, Oklahoma.”
Inigo’s message to local residents is to keep being as nice as you are. He said he hopes that more exchange students can come here, and they also get to experience the amount of good people who live here.
His time in Newcastle was “an amazing experience,” he said.
“Not only have I been able to get to know American culture, but also I was able to meet people from all over.”
Inigo said the exchange program not only provides cultural growth for participants, but also personal growth. “That’s something that they don’t tell you,” Inigo said. “It helps teenagers mature.”
Mark Baldwin said their intentions of hosting an exchange student included wanting to help Inigo learn about America, Oklahoma and being a Racer. At the same time they received something from Inigo. Mark and Donna are the parents of NHS senior Riley Baldwin.
Mark said Riley has dyslexia and is kind of an introvert, but Inigo helped Riley to come out of his shell.
They love playing pickleball and ping pong together.
“For Prom, Riley would have never gone, but because Inigo went with another exchange student, Riley went with a friend of the family. If Inigo would not have been here, Riley would have never gone,” Mark said, adding that the family rented a limousine for the kids and took lots of pictures.
“Inigo helped Riley get out of the house and experience things that he never would have,” Mark said.
Donna said, “I say all the time when I tell people about hosting a student that you can change their lives, but really, they are changing our lives.”
Donna said she was so focused on what she could ‘give’ him, that she never expected what she received.
“To say I love him as a son is an understatement,” Donna said.
The Baldwins will miss Inigo when he returns home, but they will be hosting a new exchange student. Maria Gonzalez, also of Spain, will be living with the Baldwins in August and will attend Newcastle Public Schools for the 2023-24 school year.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: If you would like to host an exchange student, you can message Donna for details or apply to host at donnacasse.com.)
