Scenes From Topper Boys And Girls Cross Country Teams At Rio Rancho Jamboree Meet

Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on September 27, 2021
- 9:33 am

Kelly Wetteland, Norissa Valdez, Kamaya Ronning, Delaney Ulrich, Hailey McDowell, Emma Montoya and Sophie Chadwick. Courtesy/Kathy Hipwood

Beck Ellis, Ryan Aldaz, Keith Bridge, Rueben Goettee, Morgan Schaller, Eddie Gartz and Rowan Flores. Courtesy/Kathy Hipwood

SPORTS News:

The boys and girls cross country teams lived up to their pre-race #1 rankings at the Rio Rancho Jamboree Saturday, the premiere in-season cross country meet in the state, which included 54 teams from around the Land of Enchantment.

The Hilltoppers swept all divisions except the boys JV who finished just behind 5A powerhouse Cleveland High School. Both varsities put all five scores in the top 20 in the Championship Division.

Keith Bridge was the top Topper, finishing 2nd in the field of 151 runners with a time of 16:32 on the sandy course and was strongly backed by his teammates. Senior Mogan Schaller went hard from the gun and put together a championship caliber run, finishing in 5th place.

The other scorers were:

senior Ryan Aldaz, back from a long term basketball injury, finishing 12th;
junior Rowan Flores in 15th; and
and senior Rueben Goettee in 17th.

Eddie Gartz and Beck Ellis rounded out varsity in 41st and 56th and the team surpassed 2nd place Rio Rancho by 42 points and third place Volcano Vista by 65.

Delaney Ulrich, who has emerged as one of the elite runners in the state, again led her team, finishing 3rd overall with a time of 19:19. Seniors Kelly Wetteland and Norissa Valdez worked together throughout the race to take the last two top ten spots.

Juniors Hailey McDowell and Emma Montoya sealed the dominant victory with their 17th and 19th place finishes. Key varsity runners Sophie Chadwick and Kamaya Ronning crossed the line in 28th and 43th place. The team outperformed 2nd place Albuquerque Academy 58 to 106. Rio Rancho was 3rd with 129 points.

Senior Tommy Oldham led the JV boys’ runner up finish with his 2nd place finish, while freshman Rebecca Beaux and junior Zorah Fullup provided a 1-2 punch to lead the JV girls’ dominant performance.

The Jamboree featured a mixed gender C-team division and the Hilltoppers again finished at the top of the list. Top scores were 9th graders Ella Miranda and Duane Sena, both earning individual runner up honors.

JV winners (L to R) Lena Ronning, Rebecca Beaux, Zorah Fullop, Sophie Fisher, Sofia Enriquez, Katie Wingo and Nyla Lee. Courtesy/Kathy Hipwood