Mayoral, Harrison run fastest times in New Mexico

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

Cleveland's Amanda Mayoral made sure she left her mark Saturday on the New Mexico state cross country championship. The senior won her third straight individual title and guided her team to a 6A team championship at Rio Rancho High.

Mayoral crossed the finish line of the 5,000-meter course in 18 minutes, 23.6 seconds. Cleveland scored 52 points to edge out defending champion Rio Rancho (57). 

In the boys 6A race, there were some familiar names, as Yonas Haile of Cleveland made it a sweep as he won the individual title in 16:02.4 and Cleveland dominated as a team, scoring 35 points.

The Albuquerque Academy girls easily defended their 5A crown, scoring 38 points, as Jaque Pinon of St. Pius X ran 18:42.4 to win. 

For the boys 5A, junior Kashon Harrison of Kirtland clocked 15:54.8 to win with the fastest time of the day. Albuquerque Academy placed four runners in the top 10 to win the program's third straight title. 

It was all Taos in 4A girls. Led by first-place finisher Ella Katz (20:18.8), Taos swept the first three positions to win with 31 points for the team title.

West Las Vegas' Miguel Coca ran 16:20 to win the 4A crown, while Navajo Prep scored 78 to collect the top team honors.

A 1-2-3 finish for the Cottonwood Classical girls team propelled them to the 3A team title. Rhylyn Jones won in 20:31.6. 

Sophomore Colton Salvador of Laguna-Acoma finished in first in 16:51.7, while Pecos scored an impressive 25 points with four runners placing in the top six to earn the team's third straight 3A title.

In 2A girls, Penasco's Carly Gonzales clocked 20:36.5 to win the individual crown and helped defend the team title. Penasco placed three runners in the top 10. 

Navajo Pine won the program's first boys state title since 2014 as sophomore Michael Marshall won in 17:10.1. Navajo Pine had four runners in the top six to score 37 points.

Team Champions

Boys 6A - Cleveland 35 points

Girls 6A - Cleveland 52 points

Boys 5A - Albuquerque Academy 37 points

Girls 5A - Albuquerque Academy 38 points

Boys 4A - Navajo Prep 78 points

Girls 4A - Taos 31 points

Boys 3A - Pecos 25 points

Girls 3A - Cottonwood Classic 48 points

Boys 2A - Navajo Pine 37 points

Girls 2A - Penasco 32 points