Devin Gonzales (831) is one reason we're keeping an eye on Pecos this spring.
2A Boys
Take your pick. It could be Texico. It could be Santa Rosa. If we reach a bit, it could be Pecos or Capitan. It's not likely to be anybody else, though. Santa Rosa, of course, won it last year, while Texico, Capitan, and Pecos were each a few places back. But graduations have a way of evening things out a little over time.
Gabriel Bailey figures to be the key guy for Texico this spring. He can sprint. He can hurdle. And, he's useful on relays. It's hard to say now what the exact mix of state events is for him, but he will be important if Texico gets serious about a state title run.
Other key pieces figure to include pole vaulter Gabe Dickerman (the top returner from state), distance runner David Lopez and sprinter/jumper Zeke Soliz. It's especially helpful to the cause if throwers Robbie Clause and Julian Hernandez can contribute to the pile of points.
Santa Rosa has plenty coming back and will be formidable once again this year. Jumper and 400 type Ricardo Chavez figures as one critical piece. Jumper/hurdler Shawn Agar is another. Hurdler and javelin thrower Martin Madrid is the third. Santa Rosa figures to get additional points in bits and pieces but these three hold the key to the large pile of points Santa Rosa needs to repeat as state champions.
Two others who might be expected to garner some points along the way are long jumper Santiago Pacheco and distance runner Elijah Bachicha.
Oh, and one more thing Santa Rosa has in their corner--a good understanding to what it takes to leave Albuquerque as winners.
Pecos has been strong in the distance events in recent years, but that may not be as much the case this spring. Even so, Devin Gonzales is a distance runner who can score some state points, but he also figures to contribute in the pole vault. Beyond that, the Panthers must rely heavily on the talents of thrower Ismael Villegas and sprinter Rolando Sandoval. If some fresh new talent emerges in the Panther camp, so much the better.
Capitan will look to sprinter/high jumper Wyatt Lowrance to make a lot of noise. Gabriel Hayes is a hurdler and long jumper who should be worth some state meet points. The same holds true for Kort Sparks in the long jump and pole vault. Julian Garcia is a possibility for scoring in the triple jump.
Capitan, however, will need to cobble together some strong relays to make a serious bid at toppling Texico and Santa Rosa. They don't have quite the individual point potential that the other schools do and will need to use the relays to make some noise.
Right now, Cloudcroft and Navajo Pine look to be on the outside looking in. One or two added key athletes, however, could make a big difference for either one. Navajo Pine--as evidenced by their state cross country title this fall--is better than anyone else in distance, but it's extremely difficult to win a state title on distance alone. Cloudcroft, on the other hand, needs that one athlete who can rake in the points. It's difficult to nickel and dime your way to a state title.