The Pojoaque and Española Valley boys cross country teams have a real opportunity to win their districts this season.
Both cross country programs are headed by veteran coaches who have devoted literally a lifetime to their sport and who have led their teams to a state championship.
Lawrence Naranjo has been at Española for over 25 years and his 1992 girls team remains the high school’s only team to win a state title. Alan Lockridge has been at Pojoaque nearly as long and his teams have put six (three boys and three girls) state championship banners on the walls of Pojoaque’s gym.
This year, the Sundevils’ boys team won the Taos Invitational Sept. 12 and has a solid group of runners headed by Derrick Martinez. Española has a big hurdle to jump over when it comes to winning a District 2AAAA title because Los Alamos has always dominated this district.
But things could change this year because Los Alamos doesn’t appear to be as deep as in previous years. Although the Hilltoppers boast Kyle Pittman, who might be the best runner in any class in New Mexico, the Sundevils could pull off an upset at districts if they can bunch their runners together in the middle of the top 10.
Interestingly enough, a team can do well at districts and not so well at state. In 2003, Pojoaque won the District 2AAA girls title, but at state, it was the Robertson Cardinals that won the team title, despite the fact that they had only finished third at the District 2AAA meet.
The Pojoaque’s boys team is similar to Española’s because the Elks do not have an individual standout, but do have a solid group of five runners who seem to realize that their strength is in finishing closely packed together. James Viarrial, Sam Roybal, Daniel Santistevan and Dominic Martinez could pull off an upset at the District 2AAA meet. They might even come back with a trophy from state.
If one of their teammates picks it up and joins this group of four, a trophy becomes a real possibility.