Seraiah Pineda and Jenna Thurman join the first-team selections on the MileSplit All-New Mexico teams. Photos by Alan Versaw.
First Team Boys
There were some tough choices to make here where I took into view entire seasons rather than focusing on just the state meet. And, at least one of these was so impressive in his state meet that he probably earned a step up from second team solely on the basis of his state meet. The group as a whole was very impressive. Luis Martinez, of course, stands apart from the rest, but it's a group of serious quality all around.
Luis Martinez, Sr., Cleveland
Alonzo Chavez, Sr. Mora
Aaron Flores, Jr., Cleveland
Nick Hill, Sr., Los Alamos
Seraiah Pineda, Sr., Hobbs
Sean Reardon, Sr., Los Alamos
Brandon Levi, Sr., Piedra Vista
Second Team Boys
The more I dug through the season results, the more the small-school entries in this group clamored for attention. Eridon's season, of course, ended prematurely, but he ran very well in the window of opportunity he had. Santistevan made his case not so much with a time but with a convincing win at state and a very strong run at Los Alamos. You know there was more in him than state squeezed out of him where there was nobody to ride his shoulder and press the pace a little.
Orion Staples, Sr., Los Alamos
Jereme Santistevan, Jr., Pojoaque Valley
Zachary Castillo, Sr., Volcano Vista
Preston Charlie, Sr., Rio Rancho
Jared Mayoral, Sr., Cleveland
Ryan Betty, Sr., Rio Rancho
Eric Eridon, Sr., East Mountain
First Team Girls
Taking the seasons as a whole, these seven seem to stand out from the rest. Erin Archibeck's season may have developed later than the others, but they were all on top of their games when it counted the most.
Malia Gonzales, Sr., Cleveland
Jenna Thurman, Sr., Del Norte
Erin Archibeck, Fr., Albuquerque Academy
Marissa Nathe, Sr., St. Pius X
Jennifer Mooday, Sr., Los Alamos
Jordan Parker, Jr., Los Alamos
Rachel Fleddermann, Jr. Sandia Prep
Second Team Girls
Okay, I promised this would be seven, and it ended up at eight. But, it was really tough to get this down even to eight. Going from eight to seven would mean splitting hairs between three or four runners. And, there were a couple more that narrowly missed inclusion with these eight. It would have been much simpler to have taken merged state places 8 - 14 and called it good, but how do you ignore the body of work represented in the seasons of Archibeck, Lewis, Gianinni, Agilera, and Amberg? This is a very solid group of individuals, some of whom just happened not have had the best of state races (or no state race at all). Maybe the best part of all here is that every one of these girls will be back next year.
Claire Archibeck, Jr., Albuquerque Academy
Arena Lewis, Fr., Belen
Kelli Reagan, Jr., St. Pius X
Julie Gianinni, Jr., St. Pius X
Mikayla Pulliam, Jr., Los Alamos
Crissey Amberg, Jr., Eldorado
Cassey Amberg, Jr., Eldorado
Megan Herrera, 8, Pojoaque Valley
Meghan Aguilera, Fr., Onate