5A Girls: Catch Me if You Can

<p> <strong>What does 2012 tell us about the possibilties for 2013?</strong></p>

With Jenna Thurman graduated, there may not be anybody left who can go to the wire with Jessie Hix. Photo by Blake Wood.

About six months ago, Eldorado was reeling from the blow of losing Coach Teo Cutter. But, this transition was about as smooth as transitions ever get. Chokri Dhaouadi has taken over the responsibilities and the Eagles have barely missed a wingbeat. As a matter of fact, their middle distance and distance runners were rather impressive this spring, nailing down  three firsts, a second, a fourth, and a seventh at the state meet. 

Jessie Hix wasn't part of Eldorado cross country last fall, but word that I'm hearing says she will be this fall. For anyone hoping to close the gap on the defending state champions, that doesn't come as very good news. So, now, in addition to the returning roster of Cassey and Crissey Amberg, Coley Norcross, Jessica Depoy, Charissa Inman, Lia Stefanovich, and a few more, you have Jessie Hix to deal with. And, Melia Macias left a message or two during track season that she has designs on being part of this group as well.

There is no rest for the weary.

Needless to say, Eldorado looks very much like the favorite. Which is not the same as saying that the rest of the state is throwing in the towel and conceding the trophy.

There are at least four more teams with solid returning rosters that figure to do their best to make a contest of it. Those four would be Volcano Vista, Rio Rancho, Cleveland, and La Cueva. 

Volcano Vista figures to be led by Rebecca Castillo, but Kaylee Amershek showed us a little something last fall as well. Castillo ran longer in track this spring, but Amershek will need to take her race back to cross country kind of distances this fall. Volcano Vista will not be lacking for leadership.

Rio Rancho returns front runner Brianna Pribble and Joanna Fernandez. Both have sub-20 kind of credentials. So, if the team in green can fill in the roster with a couple more of the same stripe, it could be a very solid season for Rio Rancho.

Cleveland loses a lot with the departure of Malia Gonzales. But, they're still one of the best teams in the state based on the projected depth of their roster. Behind Nicolette Pacheco, you'll find Erika Griswold, Cassy McClintock, and Amber Valdez. All three have the potential to be 20-even or faster kind of runners. Outside of Eldorado and La Cueva, nobody else has shown their hand with respect to bringing that kind of depth to the table.

And that would bring us to La Cueva. When Mason Swanson crossed the finish line in second last November, the picture for La Cueva cross country 2013 suddenly became a good deal brighter. La Cueva needs more where that came from, but you take the positive indicators wherever you find them. Also back for La Cueva this fall are proven sub-20 types in Lindsay DeGolyer, Kellie Stroupe, and Elizabeth Weeks. They'll need a fifth to step up, but La Cueva seems at this moment to be the first team Eldorado needs to be concerned about. 

All five teams should have numerous opportunties to see one another before state. And that should make for some great cross country action in the Albuquerque area this fall.