While not in the same race, Valencia's Carisma Lovato and most of the Albuquerque Academy field will be in action this weekend. Photo by Rod Stanopeiwicz.
There are five weekends to go. Just one month until the District Meets. And, one week until the Big Dress Rehearsal in Rio Rancho. Before all of that hits, another weekend of racing is upon us. Let’s take our weekly trip around the state and see how it breaks down.
The racing begins on Friday afternoon and continues Saturday morning.
FRIDAY
Starting in the Four Corners, there is the Bloomfield Invite. Moving back to the original site (BLM land between Aztec and Bloomfield) after a year hiatus due to rain. Many of the San Juan County teams will be competing with the Gallup Bengals scheduled to join.
Over in Santa Fe is the Northern New Mexico XC Championships at the Municipal Recreation Center. Last season the Taos Tigers took both girls and boys titles, will they be able to repeat that feat, or will the St. Michael’s Horsemen wrest one of the titles? Or could the Pecos Panthers? Only the finish line will tell.
SATURDAY
By last count, five races for the day, four in state, and one out-of-state. We’ll preview alphabetically.
Beginning in Albuquerque with the Albuquerque Metro Championships, which return to the Albuquerque Academy Cross Country Course. All the Albuquerque Public Schools, St. Pius X, Hope Christian, plus both Rio Rancho and Cleveland. This is going to be good. New Mexico Milesplit will provide a Meet Preview and Summary of this meet.
We go out-of-state for the next alphabet to the El-Paso Burgess/Jefferson Invite. Many of the participants of the Rob Winter Invite will cross state lines to participate. After seeing first hand what El Paso-Eastwood did to the Desert Twilight Championship and Sweepstake fields, best of luck to our southern compatriots.
Back up to the lower edges of the South Valley for the Los Lunas David Allen XC Invite. The usual Valencia County competitors will likely face-off with the addition of a few other teams.
Down in Roswell we come to the letter with the New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) Invitational. A week after their Albuquerque foray, the Clovis Wildcats return to face more familiar foes.
Finally we come to the Zuni Patason Amesoli Invitational. A nice field of 12 has been assembled with notables undefeated Niles Thomas (Miyamura) and 4-1 Addison Rauch (East Mountain) are in the field. Correct me if I’m wrong, as I have not seen the Miyamura Invite results, but I do believe the host Thunderbird boys are currently undefeated on the season as well, sitting at 5-0. Competitors better come ready to race.
And that’s the weekend. Go out and watch some kiddos lay it on the line. Happy racing!