New Mexico Week in Review: April 28 - May 4

APS Metro Championships

One last chance for the Albuquerque and bedroom community teams to get all together and go head-to-head before going their separate ways of classifications at the state meet. One more opportunity for Cleveland to sharpen the saw.

There was something of an upset in the 110 hurdles when Parker Jones finished ahead of Mustafa Mudada. As we mentioned last week, this one should be well worth the watching at state.

Let's also hope that Jennalee Thurman and Jessie Hix left something in the tank for state. Due to classification differences, they won't see each other at state, but they might both see the south side of 11 minutes. Thurman is a certified threat to blow through five minutes in the 1600.

And, how about Gilbert Ramirez running 1:56 and change for the 800? 

Many interesting state performances ahead...

Carrizozo Quad

Even with districts looming ahead for the weekend, they got together for a Tuesday meet.

Teryn Kayser of Mountainair honed her hurdle skills a little with a 17.04 in the 100s. Kayser would later win the long jump at 15-7. Carrizozo's Ultavius Nash added a 6-2 high jump to his winning 100 meter dash to double his fun on the day. 

Los Alamos Quad

Up in the thinner air above Santa Fe, they staged another meet on the Mondo. Somebody forgot to tell the St. Michael's boys that Los Alamos is supposed to win all the meets on their own green-and-gold track. Apparently, the Horsemen are no respecters of tradition. And, they're also a serious threat to run away with the 3A state title unless someone finds a way to match up with their field events point production. 

Big marks of the meet are shown below, but you have to admire that 18-6 long jump by Laura Wendelberger. According to the NM state track and field records listing, that would be a new 4A all-time best mark.

Mirmanian Invitational

Britani Gonzalez continues to sear the surface of the track when she runs her 800s. Jennalee Thurman may give Gonzalez a fight, but Thurman looks like the end of that list. In another interesting development, Santa Teresa teammate Regina Marquez scored a major victory, taking the 3200 over Meghan Aguilera in 11:43. 

Devin Enslen wouldn't happen to be the only Devin at Alamogordo High School with wheels. It appears as if Devin Bright has a set of his own. 

Team scoring suggests Silver isn't yet close to giving up the fight against St. Michael's (and maybe Hope, too). And, they shouldn't be. Silver probably has a little more balanced scoring than St. Michael's and that could be important at state.

New Mexico District 1 - 1A Meet

Cimarron marches on toward the state meet as the dominant power out of District 1A. And this, of course, surprises precisely nobody. The Rams could encounter some headwind at state in the field events, but they figure to score very well on the track. Selina Rael comes out of the district meet with a clean sweep of the sprint titles.

New Mexico District 4 - 2A

Santa Fe Prep's girls had a field day at this district meet, but it didn't get in the way of Cassie C de Baca sweeping the distance events. The Pecos star will be force to be dealt with at state. Santa Fe Prep's Acadia Brooks, however, nearly matched that production with wins in the 200 and 400, plus a leg on the winning 4x400 relay.

Over on the boys side, Mora's Alonzo Chavez did match C de Baca's production. Chavez, as is his custom, fashioned big wins at 800, 1600, and 3200 meters. If they'd gone 5000 metrers, he probably would have dominated that, too. Chavez's margins of victory were, well, amazing. It doesn't figure to be too much different at state, though the 1-2 gaps should be smaller.

Penny McKnight Memorial

Taking things up to Aztec, it was yet another impressive showing for the NW corner schools. The stars were out and shining. Zach Johnson did his thing. Zhianna Flores did her thing. As did Avery Rasher, Jeremy Klepac, Kayli Farmer, Katie Hegarty, Sarah Root, and a few more. Add Sierra Martinez to your list of dangerous Aztec athletes. She had a nice meet of it, too, especially at 400 meters and the long jump.

For those who haven't yet punched their tickets to state, there's one more shot at the district meets this weekend, but figure Aztec and Piedra Vista are already loading the buses with talent for the state meet.

Ross Black Relays

This one was at Lovington, pretty much the opposite corner of the state from Aztec.

Ryan Thomas of the home team at 14-6 in the pole vault gets some attention. Kolin Zembas of Hobbs impressed in the hurdle events. Carlsbad's Cody Tanner at 21-4 in the long jump and Goddard's Nic Aston at 172-2 in the javelin round out the biggest of the highlights.

Valencia Quad

And, last on our week's list of reporting meets is the Valencia Quad. The suspects are just as you may have thought they would be--Valencia, Los Lunas, Moriarty, and Belen. And this little convergence of local teams pools some considerable talent. 

Joshua Burbank and Alexis Lafave head into district weekend with their sprint credentials nicely in order. Jonathan Myrick didn't let loose of his stranglehold on the hurdle events. Mariah Doyle of Los Lunas staked and defended her claim to the shot put and javelin titles.