Girls
Head to head match ups by defending state champions are on tap
for
the first week of the season. The Gallup Bengals, defending 5A champions
and winners of five state titles in a row, meet up with the Los
Alamos
Hilltoppers, and Pojoaque Elkettes on September 1st at the Joe I.
Vigil
Invitational in Alamosa Colorado. Los Alamos winners 4A in 2000
as well as
six of the past nine titles in their division returns the core of
their
varsity. As does Pojoaque, winners of the New Mexico 3A title in
2000.
Expect top teams from Colorado to battle the best from New Mexico
in the
7200 ft. altitude of small the border town.
One individual likely to come out on top is former Foot Locker
All-American
Felicia Guliford of Gallup. Felicia is back for her senior season
and
trying for her fourth individual state cross-country title in a
row. Expect
he to be pushed by Alicia Torres of Taos, New Mexico who had a successful
summer winning two prep races in Australia while representing New
Mexico in
a summer tour.
Boys
The Gallup boys will headline a number of quality teams from both
New
Mexico and Colorado at the Vigil Invite, but the number of defending
state
champion teams will not be as abundant as on the girls side. Gallup,
runners-up in 2000, should have and easy time with 3A champs Pojoaque
and
Dakota Ridge, CO. The top teams from the state will remain closer
to home
in September. Sandia High School from Albuquerque should successfully
defend their first ever 5A crown with the return of 4 of their top
5
runners. Albuquerque Academy returns 6 of 7 from their 4A state
championship team. Look for the Albuquerque Academy Chargers to
make it a
4-peat at state in 2001.
Top individuals from around the state are CR Davis of Gallup, John
Bunting
of Albuquerque Academy, Michael Clarke and Eric Dean of Sandia.
Return to DyeStat New
Mexico
|
