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Wildcats' boys cross country team close to perfect

ROSWELL — Clovis High’s boys came close to a perfect score on Saturday.

The Wildcats took the top four positions and ran away with team honors in the New Mexico Military Invitational cross country meet, finishing with 19 points to 56 for runnerup Lovington.

Junior Jon Fuentes led the Cats’ dominating performance, finishing the 5K event in 16 minutes, 7 seconds and beating teammate T.J. Gregg by 16 seconds. Junior Jose Salas (16:24) and freshman Jerrick Maldonado (16:25) were right behind Gregg.

“I’ve never had five guys under 16:50 for a 5K,” said CHS coach Mark Bussen, noting that freshman Jerrick Maldonado was ninth at 16:49. “It was kind of surprising to run that well, but they ran in a bunch and they get energy from each other.

“We’re going to have a pretty salty bunch by the time we get to the district meet (in late October).”

On the girls’ side, Lovington dominated with 23 points while the Lady Wildcats were second with 65. Clovis ran without its top runner, senior Kelsey McNaughton, who was taking an ACT test on Saturday.

Junior Karli Windham led the Lady Cats, placing eighth in 21:09.

Bussen said not having McNaughton may have hurt the team a bit.

“Sometimes when you don’t have a top runner, a team can kind of fold its tent,” he said. “But the girls competed well.”

Lovington’s Melena Espinoza was the individual winner with a time of 19:02.

The Cats and Lady Cats are back in action next Saturday in the Ron Singleton Invitational at Carlsbad, scheduled for a 10 a.m. start.

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