Hilltoppers Morgan Schaller and Keith Bridge lead the pack out of the stadium at the start. By Blake Wood
The 2021 State Championship Hilltopper Boys and Girls teams! By Blake Wood
By BLAKE WOOD
XC Coach
Los Alamos High School
The Los Alamos Hilltopper Cross Country teams lived up to their high rankings at the 2021 State Championship today at Albuquerque Academy, with both the Girls and Boys teams dominating the competition to win the team titles with 28 and 24 points, respectively.
In the Girls race, sophomore Delaney Ulrich and senior Kelly Wetteland ran the entire race shoulder-to-shoulder at the front of the pack. The Individual State Championship was decided in the final yards, with Ulrich crossing the line first in 18:56.3 and Wetteland following in 18:57.3.
Behind Ulrich and Wetteland were junior Emma Montoya in 5th (19:25), senior Norissa Valdez in 9th (20:08), junior Hailey McDowell in 11th (20:26). Senior Kamaya Ronning (15th, 20:58) and junior Sophie Chadwick (19th, 21:13) rounded out the team with top-20 finishes.
There were 121 girls in the race. Albuquerque Academy was the State Runner-Up team, with 49 points.
In the Boys race, senior Keith Bridge was the first ’Topper across the line in 2nd place overall, with a time of 15:41. He was followed by seniors Ryan Aldaz (3rd,16:27), Morgan Schaller (4th, 16:32), Rowan Flores (6th, 16:55), and Beck Ellis (10th, 16:58).
This is only the 3rd time in ’Topper Cross Country history that the Boys have put all five scoring runners in the top-10 All-State positions. Senior Reuben Goettee (12th, 17:11) and freshman Eddie Gartz (15th, 17:29) rounded out the ’Topper squad.
Having all seven runners in the top-15 is a remarkable performance! Albuquerque Academy was the State Runner-Up team, with 87 points.
Delaney Ulrich and Kelly Wetteland enter the stadium 1-2 at the finish.
Ryan Aldaz enters the stadium with Morgan Schaller close behind. Photo by Blake Wood
Good sportsmanship lives! The traditional ‘Red or Green’ photo with the Runner-Up Albuquerque Academy Boys team. Photo by Blake Wood
Kamaya Ronning digs deep to hold on to her top-15 finishing position. Photo by Blake Wood