The 2022 State Champion Hilltopper Girls and Boys Cross Country teams! Courtesy/Blake Wood
Senior Emma Montoya was Individual State Champion in a time of 18:19. Photo by Blake Wood
By BLAKE WOOD
Assistant Coach
LAHS Cross Country
The Los Alamos High School (LAHS) Hilltopper Cross Country teams made the most of a beautiful day Saturday at the New Mexico Class 4A State Championship.
Competing on a fast 5k course, both the Girls and Boys teams were State Champions over meet host Albuquerque Academy in two very hard-fought races, 31-37 for the Girls and 44-73 for the Boys.
Topper senior Emma Montoya was individual State Champion, leading the race from start to finish, and winning by a whopping 29 seconds in a time of 18:19. She was followed in 3rd place by senior Hailey McDowell, who finished in 19:07. Then came junior Anna Wetteland in 6th and 19:22. All three earned All-State honors. They were followed by senior Zorah Fullop and sophomore Rebecca Beaux in 11th and 12th places (19:59 and 20:08), respectively, to complete the scoring quintet. Freshman Mila Moseley (16th) and senior Nyla Lee (32nd) rounded out the Hilltopper team.
In the Boys race, sophomore Duane Sena was State Runner-Up in a time of 16:16, followed by senior Beck Ellis in 4th place and 16:21. Next was senior Jack Ammerman in 7th place and 16:44, who completed the ‘Topper trio of All-State runners. Junior Armando Inbody ran his best race of the season to finish in 12th place and 17:07. Sophomore Benjamin Sanchez finished the Topper scorers in 23rd and 17:28. Sophomores Michael Bane and Eddie Gartz completed the Hilltopper team in 29th and 61st places, respectively.
Congratulations, Hilltopper Cross Country!
Senior Hailey McDowell contributed to the narrow 31-37 ‘Topper win by finishing as the 2nd ‘Topper and 3rd overall. Photo by Blake Wood
Sophomore Duane Sena was State Runner-Up in a time of 16:16. Photo by Blake Wood
Senior Beck Ellis finished as 2nd ‘Topper and 4th overall. Photo by Blake Wood
After a hard-fought race, the State Champion Hilltoppers and State Runner-Up Chargers are all smiles in their traditional ‘Red and Green’ lineup. Photo by Blake Wood
