Note: Photo submissions from the Metro Cross Country Championships cheerfully accepted. This was a meet worthy of the extra attention that a nice cover photo would produce.
The days leading up to the 2012 Albuquerque Metro cross country championships were characterized by a high degree of anticipation. On the NM cross country scene, this meet represents the beginning of the “championship season.” It’s the point in the season when the stakes raise, the temperatures drop, and the races intensify. To top it all off, this year marked the beginning of an expansion era for Albuquerque Metro competition – with the inclusion of the Rio Rancho Public School system. For those of you without much knowledge of the New Mexican edition of the sport, that meant inviting two more powerhouse XC programs into the field – the Rio Rancho High School Rams and the Cleveland High School Storm.
With the ‘density altitude’ at a season-low for greater Albuquerque, the meet lived up to all the hype.
After a full complement of lower level races which were swept by Albuquerque Academy, the host school, varsity competition kicked off in cool temperatures under sunny skies dotted with hot air balloons.
The girls ran first in what was expected to be a four-team showdown between Eldorado High School (winners of their last two meets), Albuquerque Academy (who had finished four points back of Eldorado two weeks ago), Cleveland High School (the defending 5A state champions), and St. Pius X (who were coming off an emotional loss last week due to a controversial disqualification of one of their top runners).
Recognizing the depth and quality of the field, Eldorado junior Cassey Amberg wasted no time setting the tone. She led the field for the first half of the race, and pulled a breakaway pack with her that included her own twin sister Crissey, defending champion Jenna Thurman from Del Norte, eventual champion Malia Gonzales from Cleveland, and Claire Archibeck from Albuquerque Academy.
Gonzales ultimately broke away in the third mile to win the individual title in 18:32. Cassey Amberg unleashed her characteristic finishing kick to outsprint Archibeck for second in 18:54, a new Eldorado school record for the Academy course.
The team battle unfolded shortly thereafter and, for a moment, St. Pius appeared to have the edge after a 6-7-8 group finish from their top three. It didn’t last long though, once Eldorado and Academy made a loud statements about the power of depth. Both schools sent the full complement of their remaining scorers across the line in the top 25.
The final order was EHS-AA-SPX-Cleveland with 50, 73, 102, and 125 points, respectively.
While those results were being finalized, a similarly deep and strong boys field went off. This one was anticipated to be a two-way brawl between the Chargers from Albuquerque Academy (who had won this meet for 14 consecutive years) and the nationally-ranked Cleveland Storm.
Both teams visibly separated themselves from the rest early on and the duel began. Cleveland was stronger up front with senior Luis Martinez predictably motoring away from the field. They also had the peloton leader in junior Aaron Flores. Those two would ultimately finish 1-3, Martinez in a near course record time of 15:16.
Academy put up a firm challenge, but Cleveland’s pack was simply too strong, as they took four of the top 10 places to end the Chargers’ streak. The final mark was 36-57 with Rio Rancho a distant third with 117.
It is, however, only the beginning of the "championship season." Next week, the stakes inch upward a little as most of the state moves up the road a little to do it all again at the Rio Rancho Jamboree.