Sophomore Grace Montoya goes with the lead pack on the wet, rainy ABQ Academy course. Grace placed 2nd overall in a time of 18:28. Photo by Blake Wood
Senior Benjamin Sanchez gets some advice from Head Coach Steven Montoya late in the race. Benjamin was the top ’Topper of the day, finishing in a time of 15:58 and placing 2nd overall. Photo by Blake Wood
By BLAKE WOOD
Assistant Coach
Hilltopper XC
The Hilltopper Cross Country teams distinguished themselves despite inclement weather at the Albuquerque Academy Extravaganza on Saturday, Oct. 19. This was explicitly a dry-run for the State Championship on Nov. 9 – same course, same schedule and separate races for each school-size classification.
The Girls 4a race started in the rain, but that didn’t slow down the defending State Champion Hilltoppers. Led by Grace Montoya’s 18:28, 2nd place finish on the 5k course on Albuquerque Academy’s campus, the ’Toppers beat the home team by a score of 39-49, and posted the best average time across all classifications. Rounding out the scoring quintet were Ensley Jorgenson (5th, 18:49), Mila Mosely (7th, 19:06), Amelia Hill (14th, 19:54), and Rebecca Beaux (17th, 20:09). Emmeline Keller-Moore, Sadie Evans, Cara Gauss and Elizabeth Buck completed out the varsity squad. All five ’Topper scorers improved upon their times at the same meet last year.
Going into the race, the Hilltopper Boys were considered underdogs to this season’s strong Charger squad. That is how it turned out, but the final score (37-51) was close enough that the ’Toppers will definitely be in contention to defend their State Championship from last season. There was a lot to be proud of. Like the Girls, all six Hilltopper boys who ran this meet last year improved their time this year, most by more than a full minute. They were led by Benjamin Sanchez, who placed 2nd overall in a time of 15:58. He was followed by Gus Ovaska (6th, 16:19), Eddie Gartz (11th, 16:32), Mikey Bane (15th, 16:44), and Kaj Maupin (17th, 16:46). Brayden Allen, Andy Enriquez, Koen Christensen and Will Gartz rounded out the team.
Next up: The Hilltopper Home Meet on Friday afternoon, Oct. 25 (3 p.m. start) at the Los Alamos Golf Course. Several of the Los Alamos Middle School State Champion squad will be putting on Hilltopper uniforms for the first time to compete with their future teammates. Younger kids can compete in the popular Elementary School Mile. All are welcome to cheer on these athletes!
Sophomore Ensley Jorgensen was the 2nd Hilltopper, finishing 5th overall in a time of 18:49. Photo by Blake Wood
Seniors Eddie Gartz and Mikey Bane were the 3rd and 4th Hilltoppers in 11th and 15th places overall and times of 16:32 and 16:44, respectively. Photo by Blake Wood
The victorious Hilltopper Girls show off their first place trophy. From left, Grace Montoya, Cara Gauss, Emmeline Keller-Moore, Ensley Jorgensen, Mila Mosely, Rebecca Beaux, Sadie Evans, Claire Whitley, Amelia Hill and Elizabeth Buck. Photo by Blake Wood