With 3 returnees from that finished in the top-20 at last November's State Meet the Gallup Bengals looks to be the odds on favorites to make it 3 in a row in 2004. Coach Galen Martinez will be seeking his second ever title for the boys and the schools 16th since 1983. Other top contenders for the team title will be a young Eldorado squad and a Los Lunas team that returns the Cash twins that were both in last year’s top-10. La Cueva (3rd in `03) should also be strong despite losing All-American Shadrack Kiptoo to graduation.

Top 5A teams: 1. Gallup, 2. Eldorado, 3. La Cueva

4A will be the feature classification in `04. With #2 - #7 back from last years runner up team the Albuquerque Academy Chargers look to be the favorites. Their preseason national ranking of #6 indicates that they will be a power not only in New Mexico but also in the Southwest Region. With only 620 students in their high school Academy is by far the smallest school in class 4A (800 - 1450), but they’ll look much like the “Little Engine that Could”. The Chargers should be a handful for defending champs Los Alamos come November. The Hilltoppers lose three of the top four from last year’s team. JV depth should fill those spots but it may not be enough to stay ahead of the pressing Chargers.

Top 4A teams: 1. Albuquerque Academy, 2. Los Alamos, 3. St. Pius X

Traditionally the weakest of the four classifications 3A looks to be a wide-open race in `04. Defending champions Pojoaque returns their #2 and #3 but is running thin as far as depth. Wingate looks to be the odds on favorites with 5 varsity runners returning. They’ll need all the help they can get being that they were manhandles by 39 points last year. West Las Vegas, Ruidoso, and Grants all return at least two runners that finished in the top-25 last fall and could make a run. Moving up to 3A is Santa Fe Indian School which has been strong in 2A - 1A for years.

Top 3A teams: 1. Wingate, 2. Pojoaque, 3. Santa Fe Indian

Jemez Valley has won three state titles in a row but that streak is in jeopardy due to a senior laden team in `03. Pressing to fill in as the new small school power is the Zuni Thunderbirds, winners of 10 state titles of their own with the last coming in 1997. Many other teams have individuals that placed in the top-25 last fall so it could be anybody’s guess which teams my make the awards podium in 2004.

Top 2A - 1A teams: 1. Zuni, 2. Newcomb, 3. Pecos

With 6 of 7 returning from their varsity and all of them finishing in last falls top-25 at the State Meet Gallup will not be tested in their classification this fall. Their toughest competition will be from national power Los Alamos in a regular season match-up at the Curtis Williams (Gallup) Invitational during the first week of October. Rio Rancho was only 5th at State last year but should move up and fight for a trophy due to the fact that they return their top 6 individuals. Runner up Sandia was hit by graduation and should be hard pressed to hold off Eldorado and La Cueva.

Top 5A teams: 1. Gallup, 2. Eldorado, 3. Rio Rancho

It is not only the thin air of the 7300 feet elevation in Los Alamos that makes everyone in 4A short of breath. Most of us cross-country fans are gasping for air watching the efficiency and beauty of the national power Hilltoppers. They’ll return 6 of 7 varsity runners of which 5 of those placed in the top-10 at state. Look for the Hipwood Harrier’s (Coaches Rob and Kathy Hopwood) to be pressing for another score in the mid-teens (15 in `02 and 16 in `03) at the State Meet. Albuquerque Academy and St. Pius X will fight it out for 2nd. Both of those squads return 5 varsity runners. The Moriarty Pintos are always strong and may have something to say about which teams are on the top-3 podium on November 6th.

Top 4A teams: 1. Los Alamos, 2. Albuquerque Academy, 3. St. Pius X

Last fall the top 3 teams at the State Championships all came from the same district. Las Vegas Roberson won the title with fellow district foes St. Michael’s and Pojoaque also receiving trophies. Add in 3A newcomer Santa Fe Indian to the district and one of the 4 best teams in 3A will not even qualify to State in `04. Santa Fe Indian was 2A - 1A State Champs last fall. Adding to the log jam is the fact that each of those four teams return at least 5 of their top-7. The district meet come late October should be as competitive as State the following week.

Top 3A teams: 1. Santa Fe Indian, 2. Pojoaque, 3. Robertson

The departure of Santa Fe Indian to 3A and the return of #2 - #7 for the Zuni Thunderbirds opens the door for a great opportunity. It wont come easy for Zuni being ta much of this classification was young and many girls in the top-25 return from `03. Laguna-Acoma (4th in `03), Navajo Prep (5th), and Navajo Pine (6th) all have 5 varsity returnees.

Top 2A teams; 1. Zuni, 2. Navajo Pine, 3. Laguna-Acoma