Albuquerque Academy hosts Saturday morning’s Invitational Cross Country run

The change was made last year during the pandemic. Rio Rancho High, which became the site after Gallup had made its lengthy run, had decided it wasn’t going to do the one-day state championships, and in stepped the Chargers, who had already planned their invitational, and that’s where the Nov. 7 state championships will also be contested.

It has been mentioned as a one-day run again, but no final word has come in regard to it. But it will be the first actual state meet in two years.

It figures to be a huge crowd for the 5,000 meters that is scheduled for a 9 o’clockstart. Host Academy is favored along with Los Alamos to run off with the boys team title, and the Hilltoppers girls should lead their field with their balance.

Also registered for the field is Santa Fe High, Santa Fe Prep, Santa Fe Indian School, St. Michael’s, Capital, Pecos, Espanola Valley, Pojoaque Valley, Taos, West Las Vegas, Robertson, Mesa Visa, Penasco, Coronado, and the Academy of Technology and The Classics under a new head coach after Tim Host was replaced.

In the girls run, St. Michael’s freshman phenom Raylee Hunt is unbeatable as she has run her best time down to 18:02.57, which she ran at the annual, prestigious Desert Twilight Festival in Arizona. She could be challenged by Santa Fe Prep 8th-grader Sophie Bair, who has run under 19 minutes.

Bair’s freshman teammate Nyah Griego and sophomore Helen Desmond are good enough for a top-10 finish unless the competition is too tough this time. Santa Fe High’s top three girls are seniors Mia Schlerman, Lili Gadret and Olivia Bedfort.

On the boys side, the Demons two best are seniors Mason Nichols and Tanner Black, while Prep has a true challenger in senior Joshua Abeyta, who has run well each time out. From Indian School, freshman Jeremiah Chavez is a rising harrier, and the Braves girls are led by junior Destiny Marquez.

Pecos’ boys have a one-two duo in Aiden Holton and Elijah Lujan, ATC’s top boys threat is Joey Gurule, and his sister, Josette Gurule, is tops among the Phoenix girls.

Espanola’s top boy is Daniel Sanchez, and Pojoaque’s leading girl is Nagle Matteo.

The leading runners for the Chargers are the girls, Emma and Katie Patton and Aubrey Brunner, and the boys have William Weinstein and Joaquin Salazar to pave the way.

The boys challenge from usual rival Los Alamos figures to be Jack Ammerman, Keith Bridges and the rest of this balanced lineup, and same with the Hilltoppers girls who should have Emma Montoya, Sophia Chadwick, Norisa Valdez and Delaney Murich up near the top.

Next stop Albuquerque Academy.

“It’s a good course but has a number of hills,” says Indian School head coach Joe Calabaza.