There was a whole lot of Pecos High School green and gold and Academy for the Technology and the Classics maroon and gold on the podium at Rio Rancho High School on Nov. 9, but the colors blended among the elite were a touch of Dulce High School Columbia and gold.
On a day where the Lady Phoenix and Lady Panthers remained dominant and atop Class 1A/2A – just in reversal roles from last season’s championship — Dulce’s Kailey Julian capped off a spectacular freshman season with a 10th-place finish, running the 2019 Laguna Burger Cross Country State Championship course in 21 minutes, 24.85 seconds.
The state champions from ATC (24 points) and the runners-up from Pecos (35 points) contributed to eight of the 10 podium spots. Capitan High School’s Kalynn Bowser took seventh to join Julian among the Lady Phoenix and Lady Panther runners.
“The goal was to be in the top 10,” the soft-spoken, worn-out Julian said after the race. “I knew I could do it.”
Julian’s season in a whole featured three first place finishes, with the most recent coming one week earlier in the District 1-1/2A championship at Newcomb High School.
Dulce head coach Lewis Martinez said he’s stayed on Julian all season long, continuing to motivate and push her to her limits, because he knew the potential she could reach. Julian even battled through a foot injury midseason, forcing her to miss the Northern New Mexico Challenge and the Rio Rancho Jamboree.
“She doesn’t like to be yelled at, at practice,” Martinez said. “But when she comes out here, I still yell at her because I know she’s going to be one of a kind. She’s tough and on the course she was saying (her foot), ‘It hurts, it hurts,’ but I told her, ‘Come on, you got to get through this, you got to fight through this pain,’ and she did.”
Julian paced well the entire race (6:54), as she held the fifth-place spot through two miles. She was pushed to her max one final time for the season as she entered the football stadium leading to the finish line, as Pecos’ Mistidawn Roybal expedited her speed to close in on Julian in the final 10 meters.
Roybal’s chase down was successful just barely, as she edged out Julian for ninth place by .15 seconds.
Pecos edged ATC in the 2018 championship 36-39, but the Lady Phoenix stormed back this year to take first, behind four of their runners finishing inside the top five spots.
ATC’s Maggie Rittmeyer was the individual champion and blew away the field in 19:41.70. Last year’s champion, Vanessa Dominguez from Pecos took second this year, crossing the finish line over a minute later than Rittmeyer in 20:42.15.
The third-place team trophy was earned by Peñasco High School. The Lady Panthers scored 116, and were led by the Gonzales. Senior, Carly, carried the way in 15th and Charnelle was one spot behind in 16th.
“We’ve been battling Pecos and ATC all year long,” Peñasco head coach Ben Sanchez said. “They’re tough and our girls were ready. They worked hard this year, and I’m really glad they got third.”
The McCurdy Charter School girls improved upon their ninth place finish a season ago at state, taking sixth place this year with a score of 215. Senior Jayme Bustos led the way in 29th place with a time of 23:06.65.
Class 4A
As the race progressed for the Pojoaque Valley High School girls team, senior leader Mia Vigil couldn’t help but be impressed by what she saw from eighth grade teammate Marisa Martinez. In her last race wearing the green and white, Vigil caught one last glimpse of the future for the Elkettes.
Vigil typically finished first for Pojoaque in many of the races this season, but Martinez took the reins at state, leading Pojoaque (11th place, 272 points) with a 49th place finish, two spots ahead of Vigil.
“I saw that Marisa was stepping it up, and all I could say was, ‘That’s great,’” Vigil said. “Her stepping it up was really good and I’m not at all disappointed she finished in front of me. We run as a team, but I’m feeling happy that she finished out in front.”
Michaela Martinez scored 49 for Pojoaque and Jasmine Valdez and Kaylee Martinez scored 60 and 75 points.
The Los Alamos High School girls won their 20th state championship and first since 2015. This year’s title featured a spectacular finish from the team’s No. 1 and No. 2, and it was Norissa Valdez who won the individual crown in the final step over teammate Sophie Chadwick.
Chadwick had led the 111-runner field from nearly start to finish, but Valdez stole the individual title from her right at the finish line after kicking in the afterburners once entering the football stadium.
“At that point, I really didn’t care who won because we both deserved it,” Valdez said. “But, I still really wanted to win. It took everything out of me, but it happened.”
Albuquerque Academy was looking for a four-peat and seventh state championship, but its total of 54 was no match for the Lady Hilltoppers’ 30. Lidia Appell (seventh) and Emma Montoya (ninth) were Los Alamos’ third and fourth runners inside the top ten, and Jasmine Horberger capped off the state championship scoring in 12th.
Emily Chavez raced for Española Valley High School and placed 61st (22:22.50).
Meet Notes
Cottonwood Classical Prep won the girls 3A race with 54 points, led by Sophia Lopez (fifth), Aubrey Lozoya (seventh) and Liza Cardinale (ninth). Jewels Leslie from Wingate High School won the race in 19:34.75
In Class 5A, Eldorado repeated as state champions, winning this year by a 29-point margin (48-to-77) over second place Volcano Vista High School. Cleveland High School’s Leah Futey took the individual title in 18:26.45, earning some revenge over Eldorado’s Jasmine Turtle-Morales.
Turtle-Morales was first at state last season, but flip flopped places with Futey this year.