New Mexico Girls XC Countdown: #2 Cottonwood Classical


The New Mexico Cross Country Countdown breaks down the top 25 New Mexico boys and girls teams returning this fall. These rankings will include projected top runners and weighing how each team may do in their respective districts and state competitions. Changes to class alignments and adaptions to the state championship format have been taken into consideration. These rankings are based on past two seasons of performances and do not include teams that did not compete last year due to a lack of athletes and team information. All top returning runners are only projections and may include athletes no longer on the team due to transfer or out-of-state relocation.

#2 Cottonwood Classical Prep

Well, it comes down to no other team in the state of New Mexico returns four All-State runners from last spring except Cottonwood Classical Prep. To say they are just plain better than any other 3A team entering this season would not be an understatement. Senior Alyx Mastor returns as the defending individual champion from the spring but also wrapped up her track season sweeping the distance events (800m,1600m 3200m) at the 3A state track championships. Aubrey Lozoya (3rd), Sophia Lopez (5th), and Ellie Merhege (7th) are the returning members of this squad that all landed within the top ten. Their 14 team points was impeccable with the fact that those four girls came ahead of the state runner-up team Tohatchi's first scorer. That sort of team running is the gold standard and they may just be the most dominant team to defend their state title this fall.

3A Girls

2020 State Finish: 1st

State Titles: 2017, 2019, 2020

Individual State Champions: Rhylyn Jones (2017) Alyx Mastor (2020)

2021 Cottonwood Classical Prep Rankings

New Mexico Ranking2nd
3A Girls Ranking1st
District 5-3A Ranking1st


Top Returning Runners

NameGradePersonal Best (5K)Best State Finish

Alyx Mastor

Sr18:371st

Aubrey Lozoya

Sr19:383rd

Sophia Lopez

Jr20:055th

Ellie Merhege

So21:087th