Malia Gonzales has already led Cleveland to one state title. She'll try to make it two in her senior season. Photo by Alan Versaw.
Last year, Cleveland and Eldorado ran away from the field, literally. And Cleveland ran away from Eldorado. What will the story be this year?
Taking a look at the returning runners from last year's state meet, we see that even though Cleveland lost some scorers to graduation, they aren't really in a hurting way. Besides, anyone caught overlooking Cleveland just hasn't been paying attention to the general drift of things the last two years. Eldorado, however, brings back what is essentially the franchise and looks to be in a very strong position.
1 Malia Gonzales Cleveland 19:44.10 1
2 Crissey Amberg Eldorado 19:53.80 2
4 Daressa Manuelito Sandia HS 20:01.40 4
5 Elisa Woody Volcano Vista 20:07.80 5
6 Charissa Inman Eldorado 20:16.70 6
8 Natalie Gorman Eldorado 20:21.40 8
9 Nicholette Pacheco Cleveland 20:21.70 9
12 Abigail Napier La Cueva 20:28.10 12
13 Rebecca Castillo Volcano Vista 20:34.50 13
14 Brianna Pribble Rio Rancho 20:40.20 14
16 Cassey Amberg Eldorado 20:41.30 16
17 Audrey Martinez Cleveland 20:43.50 17
19 Libby Weeks La Cueva 20:50.40 19
21 Disch Kylie Sandia HS 20:55.70 21
22 Emilee Rowe La Cueva 20:56.20 22
23 Brittany Collins Clovis 20:57.20 23
24 Coley Norcross Eldorado 20:58.10 24
25 Kimberly Chapman Cibola 20:59.00 --
26 Elicia Gallegos Rio Rancho 20:59.50 25
27 Nichole Gomez Cibola 20:59.60 --
29 Dottie Smith Rio Rancho 21:01.10 27
30 Kaylee Amershek Volcano Vista 21:19.90 28
31 Amanda Gorman Eldorado 21:24.60 29
?34 Haley Mauldin Albuquerque High 21:31.50 32
35 Joanna Fernandez Rio Rancho 21:38.10 33
36 Haley Cubbage La Cueva 21:39.50 34
37 Carolyn Warner Rio Rancho 21:39.60 35
38 Shaelee Hjorth Manzano 21:40.50 --
39 Valerie Hernandez Gadsden 21:41.30 --
?40 Kym Wilson Cleveland 21:42.10 36
?41 Zoe Dinger Las Cruces 21:44.70 37
42 Lia Stefanovich Eldorado 21:44.70 38
43 Amanda Harmston Hobbs 21:45.60 39
44 Chrisselda Maldonado Hobbs 21:46.60 40
46 Tricia Grajeda Volcano Vista 21:47.90 42
47 Micah Swanson La Cueva 21:55.70 43
48 Kelsi Lewis Hobbs 21:57.80 44
49 Alissa Mastronardi Clovis 21:59.00 45
50 Meghan Aguilera Onate 22:01.70 46
Note: Athlete names preceded by a question mark are of unknown year of graduation. It's possible they have already graduated.
When we shift our attention over to this spring's 3200 rankings of returning athletes, we find the picture isn't as bright for Eldorado, but Cleveland seems to have their future figured out. It would seem that most of Eldorado's cross country talent found something to do in the spring other than running 3200s:
That more or less leaves us with a "take your pick" kind of situation between the Storm and the Eagles. But maybe the track season just completed suggests that Cleveland really has regained the upper hand.
The big four include these two teams, plus Rio Rancho and Volcano Vista. And La Cueva isn't far back--they never are.
Rio Rancho, much like Eldorado, has some re-establishing of long distance credentials to accomplish following a track season where they were a little light at 3200 meters. Volcano Vista is clearly better positioned coming out of track, and La Cueva lies somewhere in between. If the Hawks and Bears both get the depth to go strong at least five deep, watch out for these two teams.
One great summer and/or one great incoming freshman class for any of these five schools could be the difference maker. Short of that, nobody will be entering the fall season with a prohibitive advantage.