Amanda Mayoral of Cleveland should contend for the 6A state title this season.
Photo courtesy of Francisco J. Mayoral
It's possible that
Rio Rancho could win both the boys and girls Class 6A state cross country championships this fall. The Rams will be seeking their third-straight boys crown.
Coach Sal Gonzales told MaxPreps, "We have two real good squads. It's possible. We've got the talent and know that both will be in the mix."
The Rams return six of their top seven runners, paced by junior Devin Paredes, who will be in the hunt for the individual state title. Paredes, who has finished among the top three at the state meet the last two years, will be backed by the senior leadership of Mike Goke and Trevor Amestoy.
Rio Rancho probably has the state's premier 1-2 girls punch in junior Molly Klein and sophomore Andi Almodovar. Interestingly, Reina Paredes, then an eighth-grader, beat both of her teammates at the state meet. Sophomore Sierra Delaware is another strong runner among the six returnees.
Other 6A teams to watch The
La Cueva (Albuquerque) girls have notched the last two state titles and return three standouts - senior sprint star Mason Swanson along with sophomores Jessie Penners and Noelle Hendrickson. Filling in the gaps will be former soccer player and track standout Jamie Fenton, a senior, freshman Israel Swanson and senior Mariah Bernal, sister of undefeated state champion Natasha Bernal.
Cleveland (Rio Rancho) has a state-champion girls contender in sophomore Amanda Mayoral, who was runner-up as a freshman. She finished third in both the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs in track last spring. The boys team returns five of its top seven, led by freshman Yonas Haile, sophomore Dillon Wood and junior Alex Espenship.
The
Volcano Vista (Albuquerque) boys will count on five veteran returnees, with sophomores Jericho Cleveland and Ivan Pineda-Dominguez leading the way. The girls team, which graduated just two from a third-place team, will count on seniors Toni Marie Gonzales and Michaela Romero.
The
Hobbs boys will be strong even though they are still young. Leading the balanced Eagles are juniors Jesse Madrid, Victor Saldana and Andrew Bosquez along with sophomore Daniel Acosta.
Class 5A
Jordan Lesansee, Albuquerque Academy
Photo courtesy of Rod Stanopiewicz
probably has the best boys team in Class 5A and junior Jordan Lesansee should challenge for the individual title. Lesansee beat 6A cross country champion Niles Thomas in a 3,200-meter thriller during last spring's track season. Coach Adam Kedge noted, "Jordan has really improved during the last eight months. He has increased his training load and really matured."
The Chargers return seven of their top eight runners, including sophomore A.J. Kedge, junior Aric Kedge (sons of the head coach) and senior Cody Bratzler. Six of their top seven girls also are back, paced by sophomore Dara Procell, along with freshmen Celeste Martinez and Lillian Brunacini.
Los Alamos will compete on both sides. All seven starters are back from the girls team, paced by senior Madison Foley, who was third in the state last fall. Other talented seniors include Sophia Galvez, Nica Vasquez and Talia Dreicer. On the boys' side, seniors John Rees, Connor Bailey, Hayden Walker and Victor Kim will be joined by members of the state's No. 2 JV squad.
Individually, unbeaten state champion Niles Thomas is back for his senior year at
Miyamura (Gallup). He also won the 1,600 race in track. His duels with Lesansee are expected to be state highlights. "It's going to be really, really super close," Patriots coach Robert Torres predicted. "We are going to see him in three meets."
On the girls side, senior Arena Lewis of
Belen has a good shot at matching the state championship she won as a sophomore.
Class 4APerennial contender
Taos again has strong boys and girls teams. The girls are two-time defending state champions.
The girls team, with four of its top seven back, will be led by defending state champion Cora Cannedy, a sophomore. The Tigers also will count on junior Elizabeth Reyes, sophomore Isabella Padilla and senior Elecia Sanchez, who all placed among the top 40 at the state meet.
The Taos boys were second last year, but graduated their top four runners. Even so, the boys race should be wide open because most of the other top teams also were hit hard by graduation.
Classes 3A-2A-APecos should have a strong boys team with six of its top seven runners returning from a state runner-up squad. Sophomore Josh DeHerrera is the defending state champion and senior Ryan Sandoval has good credentials after winning the 1,600 last spring in track. They will receive strong support from juniors Julian Garcia and Isaac CdeBaca.
Defending boys champion
Laguna Acoma (New Laguna) should be strong again.
The Class 2A and A races appear to be wide open at this time.
