Boys Varsity team members Reuben Goettee, Morgan Schaller, Ryan Aldaz, Eddie Gartz, Beck Ellis, Keith Bridge and Rowan Flores. Courtesy/Steven Montoya
LAHS girls varsity cross country team member Kelly Wetteland. Courtesy/Steven Montoya
By STEVEN MONTOYA
Head Boys XC and T&F Coach
Los Alamos High School
The Los Alamos High School (LAHS) cross country teams had a busy weekend competing in Colorado against some of the best teams in the region and country and also competing in Los Lunas against teams from central and southern New Mexico.
The varsity and JV cross country teams traveled to Northglenn, Colo., to compete Friday, Oct. 8 at the Pat Amato Classic. The boys varsity team ran very well and was able to place their scoring 5 runners all in the top 20 for the team victory and a team score of 39 points.
The Classical Academy of Colorado Springs, a team that the boys outpaced by just 5 points a few weeks ago at the Joe Vigil Invitational, was 2nd with 104 points and Rapid City Stevens High School from South Dakota was 3rd with 121 points.
The boys varsity team was led by senior Keith Bridge who was the individual winner in 15:53, the only time to break 16 minutes on the course. Ryan Aldaz finished 4th in 16:13, Morgan Schaller finished 6th in 16:20, Reuben Goette finished 13th in 16:56 and Rowan Flores finished 17th in 16:58 to complete the scoring. Beck Ellis and Eddie Gartz finished as the 6th and 7th runners on the team and were the 2nd best and best 6th and 7th runners in the field respectively.
The girls varsity team had stout competition in the race facing the #3 team and #6 teams in the country according to the most recent MileSplit 50 in Arapahoe High school and Cherry Creek High School from the Denver area. The girls took their best shot at the strong teams and placed a very impressive 3rd place.
The girls team was led by Delaney Ulrich who finished 13th in 18:44, Kelly Wetteland finished 14th in 18:48, Emma Montoya finished 23rd in 19:25, Norissa Valdez finished 33rd in 19:52, Hailey McDowell finished 39th in 20:09, Sophie Chadwick finished 52nd in 20:39, and Kamaya Ronning finished 61st in 21:02.
Both the boys and girls JV teams placed 2nd to Mountain Vista of Denver. Zorah Fullop was the individual winner of the JV race in 21:04.
While the top 14 boys and girls competed in Colorado, the Hilltopper C teams traveled to the Los Lunas Invitational and raced as varsity and JV squads there. The girls team placed 5th in the varsity race and won the JV race. Lanee Gunn was the individual winner of the JV race. The boys only raced in the JV division and won the race while Duane Sena and Armando Inbody finished 1st and 2nd respectively.
LAHS boys varsity cross county team member Mikey Bane. Courtesy/Steven Montoya
LAHS boys varsity cross county team members Ryan Aldaz and Keith Bridge. Courtesy/Steven Montoya
LAHS girls varsity cross country team member Emma Montoya. Courtesy/Steven Montoya
LAHS girls varsity cross country team member Zorah Fullop. Courtesy/Steven Montoya