SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By Arnie Leshin
Rio Rancho Cleveland head cross country coach Kenny Henry said that Chris Humetewa was not only his runner who led the celebrating, but one of the keys to the Storm winning its 4th-straight state championship and sixth overall Saturday over the course at Albuquerque Academy.
“We had lost to our rival, Rio Rancho, in the districts,” Henry said,” and Chris finished behind three of their runners and we lost by five points, but this time he ran a personal-best with only one Rio Rancho kid ahead of him. and that was the one who barely beat him for fifth place.”
While Humetewa, on loan from Santa Fe Indian School when the tribal rules scratched the Braves from competing during the coronavirus pandemic, checked in with a 16:08.58 sixth place, and with the five ahead of him under 16 minutes. The winner was Piedra Vista senior Makua Harvey in 15:49.91, with Storm senior Ri Valencia-Rangel a step behind in 15:51.69.
“We were fortunate to have Rangel in cross country,” said Henry, now in his 11th-year with Cleveland, “because he had run track and played soccer, but now he came out for cross country and had a stellar season. He was our top runner at state and Chris was our second-best.”
Humetewa had finished third the last two years in 3A with Indian School, and with his times almost identical around 16:42 and change, but this time he kicked it up in what Henry said was a very strong field.
“Chris was tough during the middle of the race,” said the coach, “and also ran well in the final 300 meters run on the track. He was most excited when he finished, and for us, it meant we would win state again.”
Cleveland came away with 31 points, four better then the Rams, and had an average time of 16:28.07, with Rio Rancho going 16:30.67.
It was also a second reunion for Indian School harriers Humetewa and Isaiah Velasquez, also a senior and who ran state in the colors of his district school, Santa Fe High. This followed up their getting together at district and again at state, where Velasquez ran many times right behind Humetewa.
This time, he put it in gear down the stretch to place 13th in 16:39.00, one of his fastest times. He was only 11 seconds from being among the top-10 who made it to the podium. But for Humetewa, it was a find day winning state and standing again on the podium.
The other Demon at state was junior Tanner Black, and he finished 21st in 17:11.83 after coming in ahead of Velasquez at districts.
