NMAA State Cross Country Championship Preview: 4A Boys

Justin Hickey Albuquerque Academy (photo by Jaren Brooks)

DATE - March 26 - 27, 2021

Boys: A/2A Rankings I 3A Rankings I 4A Rankings I 5A Rankings

Meet Previews 

Boys: A/2A I 3A I 4A I 5A

Girls: A/2A I 3A I 4A I 5A 

Academy looking for glory on own course

Just three points determined the victor in 2019, is it possible to be even tighter of a race consisting of every school's top five runners. Also can expect Hope Christian to be a title contender after a successful district meet that saw them beat out Albuquerque Academy and St. Pius through their veteran squad. In a season where anything imaginable could be possible, will the reign of Academy and Los Alamos come to an end in a March cross country state championship in the year 2021? Well at the very least we are in for an intriguing competition between the best 4A has to offer on a mostly flat and fast course. Santa Teresa (4th) and Shiprock (5th) return to also take advantage of the past experiences to land on the podium this year.

Individuals

Well, the stage is set for Justin Hickey and all the intangibles appear to be in his favor. the state runner-up from 2019, one of a handful of sub-16 minute runners this season, the meet is on a course he's run likely a thousand times on. The challengers include a pair of Hope Huskies in Eric Scharton who just ran 15:32 en route to beat Hickey at districts this past weekend and Scharton's teammate Rendon Kuykendall who finished 6th last season. Also, a pair of Hilltoppers with Rafael Sanchez and Wakei Hettinga both landed in the top 5. Academy will also rely on Joaquin Deprez and Jesse Sanchez to be in the mix toward the later stretch of the race. A name that should surprise no one to be an individual favorite is Miyamura's Tayon Benson who finished 8th and tends to finish fast.

Teams Individual Qualifiers

Albuquerque Academy 

Matthais Dehererra Bloomfield

Belen

Mauricio Toledo Bloomfield 

Del Norte 

Joaquin Nunez Chaparral

Espanola Valley

Adrian Quintero Chaparral

Hope Christian

Alexis Quintero Chaparral

Los Alamos 

Kendon Augare-Deal Gallup

Lovington 

Julio Flores Goddard

Miyamura

Jonathan Smith Goddard

Portales

Michael Young Goddard

Ruidoso

German Baca Highland

Santa Teresa 

Oscar Chavez Highland

Shiprock

Moises Flores-Gonzalez Highland

Ben McMurtrey Moriarty

Henry Schuett Moriarty 

Sam Buerschen St.Pius

Brian Kalb St.Pius

Aidan Trujillo St.Pius

Eddie Duran Taos


2020-2021 CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

DATETIMEEVENT
March 26th11:30 a.m.3A Boys
March 26thNoon3A Girls
March 26th2 p.m.4A Boys
March 26th2:30 p.m.4A Girls
March 26th4:30 p.m.A-2A Boys
March 26th5 p.m.A-2A Girls
March 27thNoon5A Boys
March 27th12:30 p.m.5A Girls

Awards will be awarded immediately after each race.