SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By Arnie Leshin
It was a good Saturday morning for Pojoaque Valley at the annual Capital City cross country run over the MRC’s 3.1–mile course as it settled for the girl’s varsity team championship and finished second in the boy’s run.
Sophomore Mia Vigil was the first Elkette to finish, running fifth in 21:37, right behind host Santa Fe High seniors Maya Holder and Simone Rupp, Holder third in 21:10 and Rupp fourth in 21:32. First place went to Raquel Chavez of Valencia in the time of 19:36.
Pojoaque scored 54 points, 24 better than the runner-up Demonettes, with Santa Fe Prep a point behind in third place, and Clovis fourth.
St. Michael’s senior London Luttrell placed sixth in 22:05, and in 10th was Santa Fe Prep sophomore Sophie Addison clocked in 22:16. The Elkettes also received an eighth and ninth from Marisa Martinez and Michaela Martinez, Jasmine Valdez ran 16th, and Ayla Garcia 18th, and Arrisa Herrod 20th.
In the boy’s varsity run, Clovis dominated with 50 points, 26 better than the Elks. Santa Fe Prep finished fourth with 107 points, and Santa Fe High scored 162 for 7th place.
Clovis took the first two spots, with Jerrick Maldonado winning in 16:10 and teammate TJ Gregg next in 16:37. Next came St. Michael’s senior Justin Sanchez in 17:27. In sixth was Griffins’ sophomore Josh Abeyta in 17:43, and behind him was Demons’ sophomore Mason Nichols in 17:49.
Prep also picked up a 15th place from freshman Gabe Cordova, who ran 18:17. Capital’s first to finish was senior Josh Namingha placing 39th in 19:49.9, while Santa Fe High sophomore Tanner Black (16:17.3), Horseman sophomore Rowan Flores (18:24) and Griffins’ junior Krish Bhakta (18:26) finished 16th, 17th, 18th.
The girl’s junior varsity had Amaya Gonzales finish first in 25:26, and teammate Rayannon Velarde next in 25:40 as the two sprinted to the finish. Jaden Eustis of Santa Fe High ran third in 26:08. The Demonettes also took 7th, 8th and 9thwith Lily Cook, Bella Root and Victoria Hogan placing in that order.
The team title went to meet director/head coach Pat Graham’s Santa Fe High girls who pieced together 23, with Mora second.
The boy’s junior varsity title also went to Clovis with 45 points, with Santa Fe Prep racing fourth with 105. No one was close to Clovis, with second place Cuba picking up 80 points.
First place went to Andray Lujan of Espanola Valley in the time of 19:16. Cuba took the next three spots, and Clovis the next two. Eighth and ninth was Santa Fe Prep’s Julian Gonzales and Ian Olson, with Gonzales racing 20:09 and Olson 20:16, respectively.
Trey Abeyta of St. Michael’s came in 13th and was clocked in 20:44. The first Demon to cross the finish line Bluebird Askan in 22:15. Santa Fe High did not have a full squad, so didn’t figure in the team scoring. Same with St. Michael’s.
