Jenna Montoya won the long jump with a State Qualifying leap of 16′ 10-1/4″. She also won the 400 m in a time of 65.65 seconds. Photo by Blake Wood
Raina Passalacqua completes the handoff to anchor Allie Holland in the 4×100 m relay. With teammates Evangelina Gutierrez and Colette Bibeault, the Hilltoppers posted a State Qualifying time of 50.22 seconds. Photo by Blake Wood
By BLAKE WOOD
Assistant Coach
LAHS Track & Field
Cold weather couldn’t chill the Hilltopper Track & Field teams, as they got the 2025 season off to a good start at the Albuquerque Academy Quad Meet on Saturday, March 8. Competing against Academy, St. Pius X, and 5A powerhouse Rio Rancho, the ‘Topper Girls dominated with 106 points to runner-up AA’s 76, and the Boys were a close 2nd to AA, 93.5-82.5.
Most impressive for the first meet of the season, both teams qualified many individuals and relay teams for the State Championship, still two months away. The Girls qualified Evangelina Gutierrez in the 100 m, Colette Bibeault in the 100 m hurdles, 300 m hurdles, and pole vault, Grace Montoya and Ensley Jorgenson in the 3200 m, Sarah Martis and Miki Guillen in the discus, Jenna Montoya in the long jump, and Rebecca Beaux in the pole vault. They also qualified their 4×100 m relay (Evangelina Gutierrez, Colette Bibeault, Raina Passalacqua, and Allie Holland) and 4×200 m relay (Jayden Burns, Chloe Coffey, Allie Holland, and Evangelina Gutierrez).
The Boys qualified Benjamin Sanchez in the 3200 m, Jaydon Dudley in the shot put, Jayden Ramirez and Aiden Manzanares in the pole vault, and the 4×100 m relay team of Akim Leija-Sanchez, Jacob Hilderbrand, Jens Wald-Hopkins, and Esteban Wright.
Event winners for the Girls included Jenna Montoya in the 400 m (65.65 s) and long jump (16′ 10.25″), Colette Bibeault in the 100 m hurdles (15.58 s), 300 m hurdles (46.07 s), and pole vault (10′ 6″), Miki Guillen in the shot put (28′ 4.5″), and the 4×200 m relay team (1:46.88).
Event winners for the Boys included Akim Leija-Sanchez in the 100 m (11.31 s) and 200 m (23.07 s), Jacob Hilderbrand in the high jump (5′ 10″), Jaydon Dudley in the shot put (45′ 1.5″), Jayden Ramirez in the pole vault (12′ 6″), and the 4×100 m relay team (43.53 s).
Next up the Varsity teams travel to Rio Rancho High School Saturday March 15.
Jens Wald-Hopkins gives the baton to anchor Esteban Wright in the 4×100 m relay. With teammates Akim Leija-Sanchez and Jacob Hilderbrand, the Hilltoppers won the event in a State Qualifying time of 43.53 seconds. Photo by Blake Wood
Benjamin Sanchez ran a State Qualifying time of 10:00.7 in the 3200 m. Photo by Blake Wood
Demonstrating the importance of dedication and hard work, junior Abby Swigert placed 2nd in the 1600 m in a time of 5:43.33 – a remarkable 38 seconds faster than her time in the same meet last spring! Photo by Blake Wood
Jayden Ramirez leaped a State Qualifying 12′ 6″ to win the pole vault. Photo by Blake Wood