The start of the Boys Varsity race. Visible from left, William Hudlemeyer, Oliver Mosby, Sam Prada, Kaj Maupin and Koen Christensen. Photo by Blake Wood
Senior Sadie Evans sprints for the finish, followed by teammate Cara Gauss. Sadie placed 7th overall, leading the Hilltoppers to victory in the Girls Varsity race. Photo by Blake Wood
By BLAKE WOOD
Assistant Coach
Hilltopper XC
One of the reasons the LAHS Cross Country team has been such a successful program is its great depth – there are 70 athletes on the roster! The value of this was clearly demonstrated on Saturday when the Hilltopper JV and C-teams ran up in the Varsity and JV races at the Los Lunas Invitational, and STILL placed high. The regular ‘Topper Varsity runners had the weekend off.
The Hilltopper JV Girls won the Varsity race, 70-102 over Organ Mountain HS. The top ‘Topper was senior Sadie Evans, who place 7th overall in a time of 22:00 on the sandy 5k course around Los Lunas HS. She was followed in the scoring quintet by junior Cara Gauss (9th, 22:02), sophomore Elizabeth Buck (15th, 22:50), senior Claire Whitley (22nd, 23:01), and freshman Michelle Lo (27th, 23:36). Nuala Colgan and Abby Swigert rounded out the victorious Hilltopper squad.
The Girls C-team runners posted an even more impressive result in the JV race, taking places 1-7, and thus achieving a perfect score of 15 to Organ Mountain’s 50. Senior Wendy Sheppard won the race in a time of 23:21, and the top-7 were rounded out by freshman Ana Saenz, sophomore Grace Evans, junior Catherine Price, sophomore Esther Gellis, sophomore Alayna Martinez, and freshman Luthian Wedel.
A very young Hilltopper Boys JV team took 4th place in the Varsity race behind Organ Mountain, Los Lunas, and Taos. They were led by sophomore Kaj Maupin in 13th place in a time of 17:52. Kaj was followed by freshman Koen Christensen (19th, 18:12), sophomore William Hudlemeyer (26th, 18:27), freshman Oliver Mosby (33rd, 19:06), junior Sam Prada (35th, 19:23), and freshman Zach Gibson (42nd, 19:45).
The Boys C-team runners placed 2nd in the JV race behind Organ Mountain, 36-43. They were led by sophomore Emmitt Tibbitts, who placed 2nd in a time of 19:31. Hilltopper scorers included sophomores Sacho McDowell (8th, 20:15) and Hiro Mertes (10th, 20:50), junior John Kang (11th, 20:51), and freshman Tyven Beaux (12th, 20:52).
Next Saturday, Oct. 19, the Hilltopper Varsity runners compete at the Albuquerque Academy Extravaganza, which is set up specifically as a dry-run for the State Championship, to be held at AA on Saturday, Nov. 9.
On Friday afternoon, Oct. 25, all Hilltopper XC runners will compete at our Home Meet at the Los Alamos Golf Course. A welcome addition to the team will be a number of the LA Middle School XC athletes running up and putting on a LAHS uniform for the first time. Also included at the Home Meet is the ever-popular Elementary School Mile. All are invited to come and cheer on the athletes!
Senior Wendy Sheppard led a Hilltopper sweep of the top-7 places in the Girls JV race. Photo by Blake Wood
Sophomore Emmitt Tibbits took 2nd place in the Boys JV race, leading the Hilltoppers to a 2nd place team finish. Photo by Blake Wood