And a freshman shall lead them as St. Michael’s Logan Hunt makes an impressive debut

From a match on the pitch to a 5-killomer run hours later

By Arnie Leshin 

Logan Hunt is having a busy time, and she’s only a freshman.

After playing soccer Friday night at Valencia, the St, Michael’s youngster was up early Saturday morning to head for the annual University of New Mexico cross country invitational in Albuquerque.

And this what she will be doing throughout the soccer-cross country season as a member of both teams.

“It’s not easy to do,” said head XC coach Lenny Gurule, “but not only did she run her first varsity race against a strong field, she was our best runner.”

With a limited roster last season, Gurule was happy to have Hunt fit right on in with his five returning runners, especially since senior Abby Leugers moved to Portland, Ore.

So after the 2-0 shutout over Valencia, Hunt had to focus on the 5-killometer run against a strong field that featured first place Albuquerque Academy, runnee-up Los Alamos, third place Rio Rancho High, and fourth place Rio Rancho Cleveland. No doubt these are the state’s best girl’s programs.

So along came young Hunt, placing 18th in the impressive time of 20:37. How impressive? Well, she showed her heels against the likes of defending state champion Elia Katz of Taos, Robertson’s Mikala Quintana, Chelsea Griscom of Santa Fe Prep, Michala Martinez of Pojoaque Valley, Vanessa Dominquez of Pecos, four Los Alamos and five Taos runners.

And a welcome sign for Gueule as the Lady Horsemen finished seventh with 200 points. Just ahead of them was Albuquerque Hope Christian and El Paso Americana, and the top four highlight schools.

And not a single freshman came in ahead of Hunt. And the new-look Lady Horsemen got a 30th from junior London Luttrell in 21:07, a 36th from senior Janai Clayton in 21:13, a 37th from senior Violet Eklund in 21:15, and senior Lauren Cordova ran 81st in 22:56. Sophomore Gabby Garcia, who first ran last year when Gurule needed bodies, did 41:42 with the C Team.

Gurule had praise for Cordova, saying that her time has improved. And that Hunt had never even seen the course but traveled it quite well.

St. Michael’s is off this weekend, so Hunt only needs only to play soccer and practice running.

As for the soccer girls under new head coach Anthony Cassaro, they are 2-0-1 with a two overtime tie at Santa Fe High and 10-0 routs over Taos and Belen, and the win over Valencia.

But Cassaro, a New Yorker in this area for the first time, said that they haven’t yet played anybody real good, so it’s too early to take bows.

But a look at his schedule doesn’t see many challengers for a team that has scored 22 goals and allowed just one.

Santa Fe Prep, its top rival, is also in District 2 of A-3A, but the teams are not scheduled to meet during the regular season. Rounding out the district are Albuquerque Bosque Prep, a solid program, Robertson, Albuquerque  Sandia Prep, and Santa Fe Indian School.

But right now, things are going well for the Lady Horsemen on the pitch and on the XC course.