Rio Rancho's Nicole Pendley returns to defend her state javelin throw title. Photo by Blake Wood.
Several 5A girls teams have top talent returning next year, but none have the critical mass of it returning that Eldorado has. At this point, it's tough to argue that anyone but Eldorado holds the upper hand at this very early stage in the game.
The Eagles' upper hand owes to a slate of returning state scorers that includes Lauren Martinez, Jessie Hix, Cassey Amberg, Crissey Amberg, Kyra Mohns, Meaghan Martinez, and Melia Macias. No matter how you look at it, that's a lot of powder in keg. You walk away shaking your head because there are simply so many ways this team figures to be able to put points on the board.
But shaking your head and throwing in the towel are two different things. A lot can happen in nine or ten months. And, teams like Cleveland, La Cueva, Rio Rancho, Onate, and Clovis have ample time to figure out ways to make things happen.
Clovis looks to be in the best position at this point to give chase. Sprinter Sasha Smith and thrower Shelby Jones should be leading a powerful team out on the state's eastern border.
Cleveland returns some impressive sprint talent in the persons a Nia Powdrell, Elicia Gallegos, and Larimar Rogriguez.
La Cueva seems to have the most filling of holes to do, but should be able to count on leadership from Cassie Boren and Allison Mady.
Rio Rancho leans hard on jumper/vaulter Merica Valdez and thrower Nicole Pendley.
Note that Onate, mentioned in the first version of this article, slips considerably on rankings of returning athletes with graduated Maisha Grant removed from the virtual meet scoring.
2013 NM HS F Outdoor Track Team Scores (Returners Only)
Calculated as of June 15, 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. | Eldorado High School | 144 |
| Cassey Amberg (1600m 4 + 3200m 5 + 800m 6 = 15) | ||
| Crissey Amberg (1600m 6 + 3200m 4 + 800m 8 = 18) | ||
| Jessie Hix (1600m 10 + 3200m 10 + 400m 8 + 800m 10 = 38) | ||
| Kyra Mohns (100H 1 + 300H 10 + 400m 5 + HJ 7 + LJ 10 = 33) | ||
| Lauren Martinez (LJ 1 + PV 10 + TJ 10 = 21) | ||
| Marissa Cruz (D 5 + J 0.5 = 5.5) | ||
| Meaghan Martinez (PV 4.5 + TJ 3 = 7.5) | ||
| Melia Macias (3200m 6 = 6) | ||
| 2. | Clovis High School | 81.2 |
| Ajaycia Brown (TJ 5 = 5) | ||
| Brandi Gomez (HJ 10 = 10) | ||
| Chesney Carter (D 2 = 2) | ||
| Heather Pastirchak (PV 6 = 6) | ||
| Jaci Sievers (800m 1 = 1) | ||
| Kajlee Huysman (D 1 = 1) | ||
| Rebekah Gallop (3200m 3 + 800m 2 = 5) | ||
| Samantha Cano-lucero (PV 0.2 = 0.2) | ||
| Sara Lucero (TJ 1 = 1) | ||
| Sasha Smith (100m 10 + 200m 10 = 20) | ||
| Shelby Jones (D 8 + J 8 + S 8 = 24) | ||
| Tray Pegram (LJ 6 = 6) | ||
| 3. | Sue Cleveland High School | 61 |
| Alexis Aguirre (300H 2 = 2) | ||
| Cassie McClintock (300H 1 = 1) | ||
| Cassy Mcclintock (300H 5 = 5) | ||
| Elicia Gallegos (200m 8 + 400m 10 + LJ 3 = 21) | ||
| Erin Carrica (S 4.5 = 4.5) | ||
| Hanna Wolski (PV 2.5 = 2.5) | ||
| Iahlayah Wolfe (HJ 0.5 = 0.5) | ||
| Larimar Rodriguez (200m 0.5 + 400m 6 = 6.5) | ||
| Nia Powdrell (100m 8 + LJ 8 = 16) | ||
| Nicolette Pacheco (3200m 2 = 2) | ||
| 4. | La Cueva High School | 47 |
| Allison Mady (S 10 = 10) | ||
| Cassie Boren (100H 5 + 300H 8 = 13) | ||
| Hannah Hawash (J 6 = 6) | ||
| Kellie Stroupe (1600m 3 = 3) | ||
| Mason Swanson (1600m 1 + 400m 4 + HJ 0.5 = 5.5) | ||
| Sarah Ihlefield (200m 0.5 = 0.5) | ||
| Tizzana DeHorney (100H 4 = 4) | ||
| Venitra Fields (100m 2 + 200m 3 = 5) | ||
| 5. | Rio Rancho High School | 40.5 |
| Elena Gurule (100m 3 = 3) | ||
| Leilani Baker (200m 4 = 4) | ||
| Maryn Brady (HJ 0.5 + TJ 8 = 8.5) | ||
| Merica Valdez (HJ 5 + PV 8 = 13) | ||
| Nakala Watson (200m 2 = 2) | ||
| Nicole Pendley (J 10 = 10) | ||
| 6. | Carlsbad High School | 31.2 |
| Brittany Box (J 4 = 4) | ||
| Kasie Isbell (PV 0.2 = 0.2) | ||
| Matney Huber (100H 8 + 300H 3 = 11) | ||
| Shaleigh Mcallister (HJ 0.5 = 0.5) | ||
| Sydney Atwood (100H 10 + HJ 3.5 = 13.5) | ||
| Zuriah Leyva (J 2 = 2) | ||
| 7. | Sandia High School | 29 |
| Abigayle Christiansen (PV 4.5 = 4.5) | ||
| Alayna Latimore (J 5 + S 1.5 = 6.5) | ||
| Amelia Kloer (200m 5 = 5) | ||
| Jaden Ortiz (D 10 + S 3 = 13) | ||
| 8. | Cibola High School | 25.5 |
| Alyssa Garza (100m 6 = 6) | ||
| Haunah Waulfe (HJ 3.5 = 3.5) | ||
| Janaya Salazar (J 3 = 3) | ||
| Kimberly Chapman (1600m 5 + 800m 5 = 10) | ||
| Quin-lyn Borneo (400m 3 = 3) | ||
| 9. | Alamogordo High School | 23.2 |
| Alexandria Adams (300H 4 = 4) | ||
| Brianna Norwood (TJ 6 = 6) | ||
| Cayline Montoya (800m 3 = 3) | ||
| Katrina Quigley (LJ 4.5 = 4.5) | ||
| Naomi Luna (S 1.5 = 1.5) | ||
| Victoria Ramirez (PV 0.2 = 0.2) | ||
| Whitney Luna (D 4 = 4) | ||
| 10. | Highland High School | 21 |
| Deprise Richardson (TJ 2 = 2) | ||
| Destinee Thayer (300H 6 + D 6 = 12) | ||
| Destiny Ryan (100m 5 + LJ 2 = 7) | ||
| 11. | Onate High School | 20.2 |
| Jordan Martin (PV 0.2 = 0.2) | ||
| Meghan Aguilera (1600m 8 + 3200m 8 + 800m 4 = 20) | ||
| 12. | Volcano Vista High School | 17.5 |
| Alana Young (D 3 + S 4.5 = 7.5) | ||
| Haley Monteith (HJ 0.5 = 0.5) | ||
| Kaylee Amershek (400m 2 = 2) | ||
| Lindsey Larsen (100H 2 = 2) | ||
| Lucianna Reza (TJ 4 = 4) | ||
| Raven Herrera (HJ 0.5 = 0.5) | ||
| Rebecca Castillo (3200m 1 = 1) | ||
| 13. | Hobbs High School | 12.7 |
| Ariel Lopez (100H 6 + LJ 4.5 = 10.5) | ||
| Hannah Strickand (PV 0.2 = 0.2) | ||
| Kaylyn Felicetti (400m 1 = 1) | ||
| Tahleya Heckard (100m 1 = 1) | ||
| 14. | Manzano High School | 10 |
| Lindsey Gallinger (100m 4 + 200m 6 = 10) | ||
| 15. | Atrisco Heritage Academy | 7.5 |
| Casandra Vasquez (J 0.5 = 0.5) | ||
| Destiny Williams (HJ 7 = 7) | ||
| 16. | Las Cruces High School | 6 |
| Melody Reeves (S 6 = 6) | ||
| 17. | Gadsden High School | 3 |
| Rosie Avila (100H 3 = 3) | ||
| 18. | West Mesa High School | 2.5 |
| Valerie Wesselink (PV 2.5 = 2.5) | ||
| 19. | Valley High School | 2 |
| Toni Marie Gonzales (1600m 2 = 2) |