Runners will be firing off the line in Saturday's Varsity division races at the Rio Rancho Jamboree. Photo by Sampson Sage.
In 2013 the Rio Rancho Jamboree adopted a “Championship/Varsity Division” line-up, as opposed to the old “Large/Small School” format used previously.
Based on specific criteria, the Rio Rancho Jamboree Race Committee now select teams for each race, rather than go solely by classification.
The 2013 boys Varsity race saw the Roswell Coyotes place first with 126 points with a Team Average of 18:20. The Elana Kresl-led Aztec Lady Tigers paced the field with 83 points with a 21:57 Team Average.
With a collection of teams ranging 6A-1A/2A, these races are the epitome of a Jamboree!
Let’s take a look at how this year’s Varsity races could play out. Beginning with the first race of the day.
BOYS VARSITY
There are ranked teams in the mix (all rankings used are based on the most recent NM Preps Team Rankings): 5A #10 Grants Pirates, 3A #4 Navajo Prep Eagles, and 1A/2A #’s 1-5 Navajo Pine Warriors, Jemez Valley Warriors, Alamo Navajo Cougars, Tse Yi Gai Dine Warriors, and Mora Rangers.
Will the Grants Pirates pick up where Roswell left off last year, or will Navajo Pine build on their solid third place finish at Curits Williams two weeks ago?
There individuals to look out for: Grants’ Mike Anzures, Sandia Prep’s Levi Shije, Navajo Pine’s Alvin Curley, Estancia’s Augustine Montoya, and Los Lunas’ Nate Candelaria come to mind.
Will the winner come from this quintet, or will another emerge?
To view the Virtual Meet for this race, click here. (Results include Estancia’s Jakob Bernal and West Las Vegas’ Moises Coca, both of whom will be racing in the Championship race.)
GIRLS VARSITY
What do you get when equally matched teams get together for a race? Uncertainty, that’s what.
In addition to the Aztec Lady Tigers, last years Varsity division winner, the field includes: 5A #10 Espanola Valley Lady Sundevils, the 3A #’s 1-5 Navajo Prep lady Eagles, Cottonwood Classical Prep Lady Coyotes, Estancia Lady Bears, ATC lady Phoenix, and Rehoboth Lady Lynx, and the 1A/2A #’s 1-5 Jemez Valley Lady Warriors, Cimmaron Lady Rams, Ramah Lady Mustangs, Mora Rangerettes, and the Penasco Lady Panthers.
Can the Lady Tigers hold their place atop the podium, or can Espanola, Navajo Prep, or Jemez take top team honors?
As far as top individual honors, Estancia’s Aubri Wyre took top honors at the Socorrow Stampede, Cobre’s Skylar Jones, Sandia Prep’s Kalei Yepa, Santa Fe Prep’s Sarah Raboff, Aztec’s Elana Kresl and Newcomb’s Corminda Henry have all been having a solid falls, could one of them take the field? Or perhaps someone else will rise to the occasion?
To view the Virtual Meet for this competitive race, click here. (Results include Desert Academy’s Taylor Bacon and Eliza Donahue, Navajo Pine’s Annoesika Laughlin, and Pecos’ Cassie Cde Baca, all of whom will be racing in the Championship race.)