The 2025 State Champion Hilltopper Girls Track & Field Team gather for a victory photo. Photo by Blake Wood

Raina Passalacqua completes the handoff to Allie Holland on the way to placing 2nd in the 4×100 m relay. Holland also placed 2nd in the long jump, 4th in the 200 m, 6th in the 100 m, and was part of the winning 4×200 m relay team. Passalacqua also placed 6th in the high jump and was part of the 2nd place 1600 m sprint medley relay team. Photo by Blake Wood

By BLAKE WOOD
Assistant Coach
LAHS Track and Field

The Hilltopper Girls Track & Field team came out on top of a very hard-fought battle with the Albuquerque Academy Chargers to win their 5th straight State Championship at the UNM track on Saturday, by a score of 111-102. Those two scores were the most, by far, achieved in any class, either boys or girls, in this weekend’s competition.

It was a very good day for seniors Colette Bibeault, Dani Trellue, and Allie Holland – the three of them accounted for more than half the team’s points. Colette Bibeault scored a total of 29 points, the second most among all Class 4A girls, by winning the pole vault and 300 m hurdles, and placing 2nd in the 100 m hurdles, high jump, and triple jump. Her vault of 11′ 7″ was a new 4A State Record, and her 100 m hurdle time of 14.70 seconds in the preliminary round was under the old 4A State Record (although the new record was set by an Artesia athlete). 

Dani Trellue scored 15 points, placing 2nd in the pole vault, 3rd in the 100 m hurdles and triple jump, and 5th in the 300 m hurdles.

Allie Holland scored 13.5 points, placing 2nd in the long jump, 4th in the 200 m, 6th in the 100 m, and being a part of the winning 4×200 m relay, with teammates Chloe Coffey, Jayden Burns, Annie White, and Evangelina Gutierrez, and 2nd place in the 4×100 m relay, with teammates Raina Passalacqua, Chloe Coffey, and Evangelina Gutierrez.

But the team win, which was not clinched until the final event, was achieved by many more than those three seniors. Every girl on the team contributed, and many achieved personal milestones. In addition, strategic placement of athletes in particular events by Head Coach Ernest Martinez and his coaching staff provided an edge that proved decisive.

Besides wins in the pole vault, 300 m hurdles, and 4×200 m relay, the ‘Topper Girls 4×400 m relay team of Jenna Montoya, Margaret Steinkamp, Jayden Burns, and Chloe Coffey won the final event of the meet to put the accent on their team win.

Additional State Runner-Up performances were achieved by the 1600 m sprint medley relay team of Raina Passalacqua, Annie White, Margaret Steinkamp, Emmeline Keller-Moore, and Ensley Jorgenson, and the 4×800 m relay team of Emmeline Keller-Moore, Rebecca Beaux, Abby Swigert, and Ensley Jorgenson.

Also contributing points to the team total were Evangelina Gutierrez (4th in the 100 m), Abby Swigert (6th in the 1600 m), Ensley Jorgenson (3rd in the 3200 m), Maya Graves (6th in the 100 m hurdles), Raina Passalacqua (6th in the high jump), and Jenna Montoya (3rd in the long jump).

With their 5th place finish, the Hilltopper Boys, Head Coach Steven Montoya, and his coaching staff had a lot to be proud of, with many lifetime bests, clutch performances, and gritty efforts.  They accumulated 50.5 points.  Albuquerque Academy narrowly won over Artesia, 74.5-71.

Both the 4×200 m relay team (Akim Leija-Sanchez, Jacob Hilderbrand, Jens Wald-Hopkins, and Esteban Wright) and the 4×400 m relay team (Esteban Wright, Jacob Hilderbrand, Andy Enriquez, and Jens Wald-Hopkins) were runner-ups in their events. The 4×200 m relay time was their best of the season.

The 1600 m sprint medley relay team of Chris Teague, Jacob Hilderbrand, Pat Montoya, and Andy Enriquez placed 3rd, running their fastest time of the season. The 4×800 m relay team of Gus Ovaska, Eddie Gartz, Mikey Bane, and Andy Enriquez not only ran their fastest time of the season, placing 4th, but achieved the 3rd best time in LAHS school history in this event.

Jens Wald-Hopkins placed 3rd in the 400 m. His time of 49.31 seconds broke his own sophomore school record and was the 6th fastest time in LAHS school history.

Scoring points for the Hilltoppers were Matt Brousseau and Jaydon Dudley (4th and 5th, respectively, in the shot put), Benjamin Sanchez (4th in the 3200 m and 6th in the 1600 m), Jacob Hilderbrand (6th place tie in the high jump), Akim Leija-Sanchez (4th in the 100 m and 6th in the 200 m), Gus Ovaska (4th in the 800 m), and the 4×100 m relay team of Akim Leija-Sanchez, Jacob Hilderbrand, Jens Wald-Hopkins, and Esteban Wright, who placed 4th.

Congratulations, Hilltopper athletes and coaches!

Dani Trellue placed 2nd in the pole vault, 3rd in the 100 m hurdles and triple jump, and 5th in the 300 m hurdles. Photo by Blake Wood

Colette Bibeault, seen here in the 100 m hurdles, won the pole vault and 300 m hurdles, and placed 2nd in the 100 m hurdles, high jump, and triple jump. She set a new State Record in the pole vault, and her 100 m hurdle time was under the old State Record. Photo by Blake Wood

Jens Wald-Hopkins set a new LAHS sophomore school record and #6 all-time LAHS performance in the 400 m. He also was part of the 2nd place 4×200 m relay and 4×400 m relay teams and the 4th place 4×100 m relay team. Photo by Blake Wood

Eddie Gartz completes the handoff to Mikey Bane in the 4×800 m relay. With teammates Gus Ovaska and Andy Enriquez, they placed 4th and achieved the 3rd fastest time in LAHS school history in this event. Photo by Blake Wood