Down the homestretch

Familiar San Juan County foes will square off Friday afternoon at the Kirtland Invitational. Photo by Sampson Sage.

And so we come to it, the last week of the regular season racing in New Mexico. The last weekend where EVERYONE gets to race, and for some, the last time they get to don the uniform they’ve earned through gallons of sweat and miles of effort.

Onto the races!

(Note: All rankings are based on the most recent NM Preps XC Team Rankings.)

FRIDAY

With ACT Testing occurring on Saturday, there are more races firing off Friday afternoon than usual. We’ll go alphabetically, starting out-of-state.

According to their Maxpreps Schedule, the Silver Colts will be crossing the state line westward on I-10 heading to Benson, Arizona for the Benson Invitational. Whether there are other teams headed here as well is unknown, but best of luck.

Zipping up to Grants brings us to the Grants Invite, where the 3A #1 Laguna-Acoma Hawks and 4A #2 Zuni Thunderbirds will square off for the third time in as many weeks.

Continuing north brings a stop at Kirtland Elementary School for the Kirtland Invitational. In years past this served as the unofficial San Juan County Championships, but with Shiprock heading to Mariposa Park, that label won’t suffice. However, with Miyamura attending, fans will have an opportunity to see if Niles Thomas can cap an undefeated regular season.

Heading east brings a stop at the Los Alamos County Golf Course for the Los Alamos Invitational. If fast, quality racing is what you’re in the mood for, this 14 team field won’t disappoint.

Finishing in the Albuquerque Metro at the Valley Invitational. Three of New Mexico’s undisputed #1’s will be rocking and rolling at Mariposa Park. Like Miyamura’s Thomas, La Cueva’s Natasha Bernal can cap off an undefeated regular season campaign. Also, the Rio Rancho Rams will be looking to finish unscathed against NM competition.

SATURDAY

While ACT Test Monitors will be closing their doors at 8 AM, leaving a few teams shorthanded, there are only two races scheduled.

In the Albuquerque Metro is the Eldorado Invitational at Bear Canyon. The 6A #6 and #3 ranked Eagles will be hosting this five team affair.

Heading down to Ruidoso could bring us to the largest race of the weekend (based off the fields from previous seasons) at the Ruidoso Invitational. Most of southern New Mexico comes out for this one, and here’s hoping that tradition continues.

And that’s it. As soon as the last racer crosses the finish line on Saturday, so goes the 2013 New Mexico Cross Country regular season. How these last nine weeks have flown. Time to get after it!