Freshman Elisabeth McNiff finished 13th overall (3rd Hilltopper) in the Girls Varsity race in a time of 19:36, followed by senior Abigail Swigert in 21st place. Photo by Blake Wood
By BLAKE WOOD
Assistant Coach
LAHS Track and Field
The Los Alamos High School Hilltopper Varsity Girls Cross Country team notched a big win on Friday at the Pat Amato Invitational in Northglenn, Colorado. Their score of 70 points bested a competitive field of 23 teams, including 2nd place Fossil Ridge (78 points), a team that last year placed #8 at Nike's de facto high school national championship.
Junior Ensley Jorgenson finished in 4th place overall out of 164 athletes, in a time of 18:55 on the 5k course. She was followed by junior Grace Montoya (8th,19:13) and freshman Elisabeth McNiff (13th,19:36). Seniors Abigail Swigert (21st,19:52) and Mila Moseley (24th, 20:02) completed the scorers. Sophomore Emmeline Keller-Moore and senior Cara Gauss rounded out the team - note that in XC, the non-scoring 6th and 7th runners still contribute to the team's place by finishing ahead of other team's runners, and thus increasing the competition's score (low score wins).
The Varsity Boys finished in 5th place out of 27 teams - an excellent showing with all seven boys healthy and running together through most of the race. The top 'Topper was senior Gus Ovaska, placing 19th overall in a time of 17:02. He was followed by junior Kaj Maupin (24th, 17:11), sophomore Koen Christensen (38th, 17:34), senior Cole Luscher (40th, 17:39), and junior William Hudlemeyer (55th, 17:59). Junior Emmitt Tibbitts and freshman Oliver Mosby completed the team.
The JV Girls placed 2nd out of 19 teams, led by juniors Amelia Hill (4th, 21:34) and Elizabeth Buck (6th, 21:52). The JV team's depth continues to impress with freshman Caterina Mereghetti (15th) and junior Esther Gellis (16th) both finishing in the top 20.
JV Boys finished in 4th Place out of 20 teams, with junior Hiro Mertes (10th, 18:28) and senior Sam Prada (13th, 18:34) finishing in the top-20 of a deep field.
Looking Ahead: this upcoming Saturday, the Hilltoppers compete at the Los Lunas Invitational. A week later the Varsity teams compete in the Albuquerque Academy Extravaganza, a preview of State Championship to be held on the same course on Nov. 8.
Junior Hiro Mertes and senior Sam Prada were the top 'Toppers in the Boys JV race. Photo by Blake Wood
Freshman Caterina Mereghetti and junior Esther Gellis both finished in the top-20 in the Girls JV race. Photo by Blake Wood