Top NM Girls Runners to Watch at XC State Championships


The 2022 Western Sky Community Care State Cross Country Championships are set for Saturday, November 5 hosted by Albuquerque Academy. Champions from classes A/2A, 3A, 4A, and 5A will be crowned and you can capture all the action live on MileSplit with on-site live streaming for all the races, race day photo albums, post-race interviews, and live results. Before the action kicks off stay tuned for our in-depth analysis of the state contenders and rankings leading up to November 5. 

Athletes to Watch at 2022  State Championships 

Boys I Girls

A/2A I A/2A

3A I 3A

4A I 4A

5A I 5A

5A Girls 

This 5A matchup truly will be a sight to see on Saturday as all the heavy hitters will be competing. You have the dominant Leah Futey getting one more chance at a state cross country title with her team also in contention. Defending 5A champ Ellary Battle ran away on the track last year and returns just as capable. Albuquerque high's Dani Figueroa has remained on Futey's side all season long and performed well to a runner-up finish last time around. Volcano Vista's Carysa Marquez remains a top contender along with Nicole Pierce of Piedra Vista. Also having a breakout year includes Eliana Rivera of Cleveland that likes to go out early with teammate Futey and has shown to be a top-ten finisher. So many ways to slice this race its guranteed to be a hard fought contest for the title of 5A champion!


Leah Futey

Sue Cleveland

2019 5A State Champion (2-time runner, 4th overall in 2021). Undefeated in New Mexico this season. Personal best of 17:48. 


Ellary Battle 

Alamogordo

Defending 5A state champion, Set personal best of 18:16 to win Mayfield Invite.


Daniela Figueroa

Albuquerque

2nd overall in 2021, placed 2nd at APS Metro Championships and Academy Extravaganza.


Ariana Thiel-Hadjilambrinos

La Cueva

17th overall in 2021, placed 3rd at Academy Extravaganza.


Bhret Clay

Hobbs

9th overall in 2021, placed 4th at Academy Extravaganza in a personal best time of 19:15. 


Nicole Pierce

Piedra Vista

45th in 2020, placed 5th at Academy Extravaganza in a personal best time of 19:16.


Ellie Suo-Anttila

Eldorado

7th overall in 2021, placed 6th at Academy Extravaganza. 


Yisel Palacios

Hobbs

22nd in 2021, and 10th in the 2020 state meet. Placed 7th at Academy Extravaganza.


Eliana Rivera

Sue Cleveland

25th overall in 2021, set a personal best of 19:30 to place 8th at Academy Extravaganza.


Carysa Marquez

Volcano Vista

6th overall in 2021, placed 9th at Academy Extravaganza.

Honorable Mention: Ava Stratton, Violet Francisco, Madison Germaine, Luciana Martinez-Crook