Something Special this Weekend

You'll wait until the Rio Rancho Jamboree to find a weekend with meet action as significant as what's coming this weekend.

There are at least six high school meets going on in New Mexico this weekend, but two will take on a larger-than-life kind of identity.

In Las Cruces, they have the Centennial Hawks Invitational. In Albuquerque, it's the Albuquerque Academy Invitational. One meet is getting up there in years--a kind of elder statesman among New Mexico's cross country meets. The other is as new as the school that sponsors the meet. But both will be drawing very large crowds of people by cross country standards (mind you, we mean to elevate those standards, but we do have to start somewhere).

22 schools from west Texas and all across southern New Mexico are headed to Las Cruces for the Centennial Hawks XC Challenge. In addition, there will be a college meet pitting New Mexico State, UTEP, Navajo Tech, and a decent selection of unattached runners. Cross country events don't get any bigger than this in the Las Cruces area--or at least they haven't yet. Figure that the teams that show up will be showing their hands just a little at this one. All the more so since most of the teams competing let off the gas pedal a little last weekend--no doubt in anticipation of this one.

Since the Centennnial Hawks XC Challenge is all of one year old, you can check up on all the meet records, previous results, and such at the 2012 meet page. It would be a worthwhile goal to bring the boys meet record back within the boundaries of New Mexico, but we'll see what happens there. I've put in a request to post the start lists for this meet. If that request is granted, those start lists will go up.

The happenings will be no less festive on the campus of Albuquerque Academy where Adam Kedge and friends will be hosting what appears to be most of the top 4A and 5A teams in New Mexico on Friday. Miyamura, Gallup, and Piedra Vista will be making the longest trips to the meet, but just because the Albuquerque area schools aren't coming all that far doesn't mean they aren't invested. Nobody comes to this meet to roll over and play dead.

Those coming will be aiming at course records of 15:05 by Matt Tebo and 18:30 by Vanessa Ortiz. Judging by what we've seen so far this year, the girls record is probably in greater jeopardy than the boys. If you think these records are lofty, you'll want to check out the grade level records posted on the meet page. Nothing falls easily here any longer.

Last year, Cleveland broke up a run of seven consecutive Albuquerque Academy titles on their home course. The Chargers will be looking to start a new string this year. Eldorado has won three consecutive girls titles and is defying anyone to come knock that chip off their shoulder.

Action gets underway at 3 PM and races continue until about 6 PM. Awards follow. Make your dinner reservations late.

Nick Martinez will be on hand providing coverage for those who can't make and for those who were there but simply can't get enough of the kind of cross country the AA meet dishes out. Blake Wood will be taking photos as only Blake Wood can. There will be plenty to enjoy after the meet.

Results for both meets will be posted as soon as they become available.