4A Boys: Has the Power Structure Changed?

Christian Mackey will return to the throwing rings in 2014 as the 4A top seed in both the shot put and discus. Photo by Blake Wood.

For only the third time since 2001, a team other than Albuquerque Academy won the AAAA boys state championship. Is it a sign that the rest of the state is beginning to wrest power out of their hands, or will the Chargers be back with a vengeance in 2014?

Good question--and it will take until May of 2014 to find the answer to that question.

2013 champion Piedra Vista took some big hits to graduation and will have some rebuilding to do. But it would be an exaggeration to suggest that the Panthers are without the tools to do some serious rebuilding in the next nine months. Specifically, Beau Clafton and Orion Kaminky should be back next year, and that's a good foundation.

2013 runner-up Farmington brings back Avery Rasher and fairly broad supporting cast that includes sprinter Devin Hull and hurdler Taylor Bentley. The Scorpions will have a little sting in 2014.

But the epicenter of 4A boys power appears to be located a bit south and east of Farmington. 

Albuquerque Academy returns a lot of point-producing potential in distance runners Kevin Wyss and Kyle Carrozza, hurdler Nick Slade, hurdler/jumper Noah Wieg-Pickering, and high jumper Parker Hibbett. Remember also, that there will be two young Kedges in Charger red next fall.

Los Alamos graduated a lot of distance, but still had Colin Hemez coming back. He'll be joined by pole vaulter Seth Drop, sprinter Simon Heath, and thrower Colin Nickless. The Hilltoppers will not be without weapons.

Moriarty, led by do-everything Kade Bond looks to be ready to chase a piece of the action as well.

But, the team that raises the most eyebrows when you take a look at who comes back next year is Los Lunas. The blue-and-orange Tigers are oozing with talent. Thrower Chris Romero, hurdler Daniel Hammon, jumper Jacob Holland, and sprinters Randy Moore and Jaden Torres make for a loaded team--and a team that should have the body count necessary to load some serious relays. The margin is too thin and the date too early to be crowning anyone as prohibitive favorites, but Los Lunas should be thinking they have the talent to make some great things happen on the track next spring.

On an individual level, it's difficult not to look forward in anticipation to the return of performers like Cassius Corley of Grants (LJ, TJ) and Christian Mackey of Kirtland Central (SP, DT).

2013 NM HS M Outdoor Track Team Scores (Returners Only)

Calculated as of June 03, 2013

These rankings were calculated by scoring the rankings as a meet. We took the individual rankings only and scored them as a normal meet: 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1.

Athletes whose graduation years are unknown were left out of the list.

1. Los Lunas High School 73.5
  Brandon Brown (TJ 4 = 4)
  Brandon Irving (D 2 = 2)
  Chris Romero (D 8 + S 6 = 14)
  Daniel Hammon (110H 3 + 300H 8 = 11)
  Jacob Holland (300H 1 + HJ 2.5 + LJ 0.5 + TJ 8 = 12)
  Jaden Torres (400m 10 = 10)
  Jalen Chavez (100m 6 + 200m 1 = 7)
  Randy Moore (400m 6 + HJ 5.5 = 11.5)
  Ryan Kline (J 2 = 2)
2. Albuquerque Academy 60.5
  Elias Limon (TJ 5 = 5)
  Jordan Lesansee (3200m 2 = 2)
  Kevin Wyss (1600m 6 + 3200m 4 = 10)
  Kyle Carrozza (3200m 8 = 8)
  Nick Slade (110H 4 + 300H 4 + LJ 2 = 10)
  Noah Weig-Pickering (110H 10 + HJ 10 = 20)
  Parker Hibbett (HJ 5.5 = 5.5)
3. Farmington High School 53.83
  Avery Rasher (400m 4 + HJ 8 + LJ 8 + TJ 6 = 26)
  Chayton Salcido (HJ 2.5 = 2.5)
  Devin Hull (100m 3 + 200m 6 = 9)
  Miguel Andujo (PV 6.33 = 6.33)
  Nate Ruteledge (400m 2 = 2)
  Nicholas Tenski (800m 1 = 1)
  Taylor Bentley (110H 5 + 300H 2 = 7)
4. Los Alamos High School 47.83
  Colin Hemez (1600m 10 + 3200m 10 = 20)
  Colin Nickless (D 6 + S 1.5 = 7.5)
  James Higdon (J 5 = 5)
  Mike Walker (3200m 1 = 1)
  Seth Drop (PV 6.33 = 6.33)
  Simon Heath (200m 8 = 8)
5. Moriarty High School 46.83
  Jake Flaming (HJ 2.5 = 2.5)
  Jayson Alexander (LJ 5 = 5)
  Justin Manning (LJ 6 = 6)
  Kade Bond (110H 1.5 + 300H 10 + PV 6.33 = 17.83)
  Manuel Sandoval (D 5 + S 8 = 13)
  Onecimo Romero (PV 2.5 = 2.5)
6. Piedra Vista High School 42.5
  Alex Gardenhire (S 4 = 4)
  Beau Clafton (100m 4.5 + 200m 5 + J 10 = 19.5)
  Harrison Fleming (1600m 5 = 5)
  Orion Kaminky (110H 8 + 300H 6 = 14)
7. Grants High School 38.5
  Cassius Corley (LJ 10 + TJ 10 = 20)
  Jared Bachman (D 4 + S 3 = 7)
  Keaton Duncan (800m 3 = 3)
  Tristan Williamson (J 6 + PV 2.5 = 8.5)
7. St. Pius X High School 38.5
  Cal Ballou (400m 1 + 800m 8 = 9)
  Javier Jarmillo (J 1 + S 1.5 = 2.5)
  Marcos Serna (1600m 1 + 3200m 5 + 800m 6 = 12)
  Steven Duran (400m 5 + 800m 10 = 15)
9. Kirtland Central High School 28
  Christian Mackey (D 10 + S 10 = 20)
  Karson Costner (J 8 = 8)
10. Valencia High School 26.5
  Cody Robinson (400m 3 = 3)
  Devon Sparkman (100m 4.5 = 4.5)
  Gavin Nagy (TJ 1 = 1)
  Joshua Burbank (100m 8 + 200m 10 = 18)
11. Capital High School 17
  Augustine Larranga (200m 4 = 4)
  Hunter Ferguson (100m 10 + 200m 3 = 13)
12. Aztec High School 15.5
  Braden Goimarac (110H 1.5 = 1.5)
  Clay Green (PV 2.5 = 2.5)
  Greg Passerilli (PV 10 = 10)
  Justin Slavey (D 1 = 1)
  Ryneal Lewis-adams (LJ 0.5 = 0.5)
13. Miyamura High School 13
  Miguel Gutierrez (300H 5 = 5)
  Niles Thomas (1600m 8 = 8)
14. Goddard High School 12.5
  Adam Gomez (100m 1.5 + 400m 8 = 9.5)
  Kelsey Cunningham (J 3 = 3)
15. Centennial High School 11.5
  Cristian Cedano (110H 6 + 300H 3 + HJ 2.5 = 11.5)
16. Belen High School 11
  Jared Garcia (1600m 4 + 3200m 3 = 7)
  Manuel Guerrero (800m 4 = 4)
17. Artesia High School 9
  Ashton Gomez (J 4 = 4)
  Marcus Oliver (S 5 = 5)
17. Deming High School 9
  Eugene Rosenbauer (PV 2.5 = 2.5)
  Ismail Garret (100m 1.5 + 200m 2 + TJ 3 = 6.5)
17. Santa Fe High School 9
  Zachary Grand (1600m 3 + 3200m 6 = 9)
20. Santa Teresa High School 6
  David Aldama (D 3 = 3)
  Ruben Soto (LJ 3 = 3)
21. Chaparral High School 5
  Ricardo Najera (800m 5 = 5)
22. Espanola Valley High School 4
  Jared Garduno (LJ 4 = 4)
22. Gallup High School 4
  Alexander Taylor (1600m 2 + 800m 2 = 4)
24. Del Norte High School 2
  Daryl Wiggins (TJ 2 = 2)