Duane Sena, left, and Jack Ammerman, right, sprint into the finish in the Boys Varsity race, to post the top Topper times of the day, both in 17:26. Photo by Blake Wood

Freshman Mila Moseley made her debut as a Topper in the Girls Varsity race, finishing 32nd overall in 21:44. Photo by Blake Wood

By BLAKE WOOD
XC Asst. Coach
Los Alamos High School

Los Alamos High School Hilltoppers Girls and Boys Cross Country teams traveled to Cleveland High School in Rio Rancho Saturday, Aug. 27 for their first meet of the season.

The Girls Varsity team finished 2nd to a strong team from Durango, and ahead of class 4A rival Albuquerque Academy.

The Toppers were led by senior Emma Montoya, who placed 2nd overall in an excellent time of 19:35 over the 5k course.

The Boys Varsity team finished fourth to Volcano Vista, El Paso Coronado, and Rio Rancho, but were the top class 4A school. The top Hilltopper was senior Jack Ammerman, narrowly edging sophomore Duane Sena in 20th and 21st places overall. Both posted times of 17:26.

The JV Girls were led by sophomore Sadie Evans, who finished 7th in a time of 23:09. The JV Boys were led by junior Grafton Urbatsch, who finished 15th in a time of 19:34. The Girls and Boys JV teams finished in 5th and 3rd places, respectively.

In the combined Girls and Boys C-team race, the Toppers finished 1st and 3rd, respectively.

Grafton Urbatsch was the top Topper in the Boys JV race, finishing 15th in a time of 19:34. Photo by Blake Wood

Sadie Evans led the JV Hilltopppers with a 7th place finish in 23:09. Photo by Blake Wood