A heart-touching display of community and memory was put together the afternoon of March 1 at the Colorado Mesa University (CMU) Track and Field Complex to mourn the loss and honor the life of Erica “Ricky’’ Maestas.
Hundreds of students and athletes packed the CMU track to run a mile in honor of Ricky’s life and legacy.
Kate Linstedt, a teammate of Ricky’s on CMU’s distance track team, spoke to her character saying, “Ricky was just the light to everyone. She’s honestly just the embodiment of love.”
Indeed, Ricky’s kind spirit reached beyond her teammates to a wide range of CMU’s community.
“She was such a beautiful person, her personality just lit up a room,” freshman Jemma Hartsell said. “She was always so good about helping others. That’s one thing I really want to say. She was here to help people and make sure everyone else was doing okay.”
Ricky’s dedication to helping others was also felt by her classmates in CMU’s social work program.
“I had just had hip surgery, and she would always make sure I was loved and taken care of in class,” Serenity Burnett-Perry said.
As the mile run began, all lanes of the track were packed with students and coaches. As many of the first runners finished, CMU President John Marshall stood to the side and celebrated.
“This is how Mavs show up for each other,” Marshall said. “It’s pretty moving to see the turnout. There’s a lot of love here. I’m grateful to see these students show up for each other.”
Ricky was an exceptional runner herself, finishing her freshman year of outdoor track with a 5k PR of 19:12.63 and a 1,500 meter PR of 5:12.97. This earned her second place at the Maverick: Top Gun Last Chance Meet.
Ricky is lived on by her parents, Linda and Sam Maestas, as well as her twin siblings, Sam and Alayna Maestas.
Additionally, CMU’s Associated Student Government, alongside CMU cross country and the Social Work Club, held a Celebration of Life for anyone impacted to honor and remember Ricky. This occurred on Monday, March 6 from 6-8 p.m. at the Center for Reflection.
