Rio Rancho's Charlie Vause stormed to a 15:17 course record to win the boy's 5A state championship.
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It was an exciting day at the 2023 New Mexico NMAA State Championships with tons to look back on.
Let's dive into the madness!
5A
The girls 5A race was on fire to say the least.
Eighth-grader Gianna Rahmer of Eldorado (yes, eighth-grade folks) highlighted the day, setting a new monster course record with a time of 16:58.01 -- while winning by over two minutes.
This was Rahmer's first showing with the high school crowd - it's safe to say she proved her dominance and will be a star to keep an eye on.
After finishing 11th last season, senior Ariana Thiel-Hadjilambrinos of La Cueva was the runner up, clocking a season best time of 19:02.46. Mariah Galbraith took third while clocking 19:28.47, leading Rio Rancho to their overall win.
Rio Rancho scored 48 points to secure the team title. The girls of La Cueva finished runner-up with 86 points, while Cleveland finished third with 90 points.
The boy's race created another exciting watch with Charlie Vause setting another dominating course record. The junior clocked 15:17.16, shattering his prior personal record.
Vause didn't crack the 16 minute barrier last cross country season and is now leading New Mexico in his first year competing here, having competed in Ohio prior.
Teammate of Vause Mateo Herrera stayed within close contact, placing second with a time of 15:31.41. Setting a new PR, Herrera is No. 3 in New Mexico. Orion Chavez of Volcano Vista placed third, clocking 15:42.16 - another personal best.
Rio Rancho was led to their team victory by Vause and Herrera, scoring 34 points. Volcano Vista placed second with 57, while 94 points placed Cleveland third.
4A
Last season's runner up 4A runner up Anna Hastings of Albuquerque Academy clocked a massive PR of 18:17.17 to take the individual title.
Hastings has only broken 19 minutes one other time this season when she ran 18:54.00.
Another huge PR from Addison Julian placed her second. Her time of 18:24.66 is the first time she's dipped under 19 minutes by a large margin. Anna Wetteland placed third, running 19:01.16.
Albuquerque Academy took a tight team victory over Los Alamos, tallying 26 points to Los Alamos' 31.
Judah Daffron cruised to a state title in the boys 4a race, clocking a PR of 16:02.32. This is the sophomore's third consecutive win this season and first state title.
Billy Romero, teammate of Daffron at Taos, was right on his tail finishing second in 16:06.46 - a huge PR by almost 50 seconds.
Third place clocking 16:09.45 was Benjamin Sanchez of Los Alamos.
The boy's team race was just as close as the girls, though this time the result was flipped.
Scoring 58 points, Los Alamos took the overall team title. Albuquerque Academy scored 65 points for a close second place, while Gallup took third with 85 points.
3A
Eighth-grader Chloe Grieco ran to her first state title this weekend, running 18:15.24 for the win in the girls 3A race.
Grieco had quite the standout season -- she finished within the top 10 at every meet she competed in this year. Greico is just getting started!
Pippa Barrett of Santa Fe Prep was the runner-up in 19:10.95, a new PR and her first time dipping under the 20 minute mark.
Kate Henderson of Sandia Prep took third, clocking 19:25.71.
Barrett led her team, Santa Fe Prep, to victory as they earned 57 points. Sandia Prep placed second with 73 points, while Cottonwood Classical Prep scored 101 points to place third.
The boys 4A race saw nine dip under 17 minutes with Landen Sandoval leading the pack, clocking 16:01.04.
The St. Michael's senior took over 40 seconds off of his prior PR of 16:44.20 as he earned his first state title.
Briley Dauphinais of Tohatchi placed second in 16:13.26, while Quinlan Dry of Santa Fe Prep ran 16:32.27 to place third.
Zuni earned 68 points to take home the overall team title. Santa Fe Indian School placed second with 78 points, while the boys of Navajo Preparatory stayed in close contact, placing third with 82 points.
1-2A
Olivia Marquez of Oak Grove dominated the field in the girls 1-2A race, winning by over 40 seconds by running 19:03.40 - and per with the theme Saturday - she's only an eight-grader. Marquez took her PR from 20:15.00 to 19:03.40 to become a state champion.
Placing second was Cecilia Campos. The Chesterton senior clocked 19:49.39 for a new PR.
Mia Smith of Laguna Acoma stayed close to Campos to place third in 19:52.89.
ATC tallied up 61 points to take home the team title. Legacy Academy scored 84 points for second, while Gateway Christian scored 159 points for third.
Running 16:18.92, Lucas Williams of Laguna Acoma ran towards the individual title. This was Williams' third consecutive win of the season and first ever state title.
Not too far behind him in the runner-up position was teammate Tagoya Pedro who clocked 16:23.91.
Brandyn Encinias placed third running a time of 16:28.67.
Oak Grove tallied up 60 points for the team title, while Pecos was right there within two points at 62 to take the runner-up team score. Laguna Acoma placed third with 76 points.