JOHN GRIMSLEY MEMORIAL CROSS COUNTRY INVITATIONAL

By Arnie Leshin 

St. Michael’s young and rising 8th-grader Chloe Griego served notice again in running off with the girls John Grimsley Memorial Invitational varsity 5,000 meters race Saturday over the course at Santa Fe Indian School. 

One of three 8th-grade girls in the annual event dedicated to the late former Indian School XC coach, Griego again won another top varsity race, and by an almost two-minute finish over sophomore Sophie Bair of Santa Fe Prep in 19:16.35, with Bair clocking 21:12.20. 

Third went to Griffin junior Helen Desmond in 21:29.30, and the team championship went overwhelming to Prep with 40 points, 29 better then second place Taos, and the host Braves ran third with 81 points.

A third Prep runner, sophomore Pippi Barrett, took fourth in 21:40.06, and Indian School junior Destiny Chino took sixth in 20:20.11. Placing 12th was Santa Fe High junior Mia Schleman in 22:40.26.

Another Griego, sophomore Nya from Santa Fe High, won the junior varsity for girls in 21:16.47. The Jayvees from Indian School claimed the team title by edging Los Alamos, 28-27, in the closest of the day that included varsity, JV and middle schools.