Lady Cats look to move up in 6A state meet

Sports writer

[email protected]

Clovis High’s girls have had another strong cross country season. Now the Lady Wildcats are looking to move up in Class 6A state competition.

Clovis is sending both teams to the 6A state meet, scheduled for today at Rio Rancho H.S. The 6A girls race is slated for 10:30 a.m., with the 6A boys running at 1:05 p.m.

Fifteen teams — three from each of the state’s five districts — qualified for today’s competition.

The Lady Cats were seventh in last year’s state meet, and hope to move up a couple of notches or so.

“We’re probably looking at between fifth and seventh (place) if we run well,” CHS coach Mark Bussen said. “If somebody else slips a little, we might be able to go higher.”

Clovis saw some of the better competition in the Albuquerque area, including Rio Rancho and Rio Rancho Cleveland, during a meet this season at Highland.

“Looking at the districts, it’s hard to determine who will be pretty good,” Bussen said. “But I think Rio Rancho’s boys and girls are pretty good, and Cleveland’s girls.”

Sophomore Kelsey McNaughton leads the Lady Cats, as she did last year when she placed 10th at state.

“I’d like to get out to a fast start, and stick with the top group,” McNaughton said. “I want to get out quick and finish strong.”

McNaughton is unbeaten in New Mexico except for the Highland meet, where she came in third behind runners from Cibola and Cleveland. She’s also come in second twice in Texas meets.

“I told Kelsey I have all the confidence she can be in the top five,” Bussen said. “So far only two 6A girls have beaten her (head-to-head), but we haven’t seen Rio Rancho yet. Rio Rancho has a good, solid team, but I don’t think they have a great individual.”

McNaughton’s goal for the team pretty much mirrors that of Bussen.

“I think we can get in the top five, so we’ll see what happens,” she said. “I feel confident that we can.”

The boys squad, meantime, has probably exceeded expectations this season. The Wildcats’ squad at state is made up of four freshman, a sophomore and two juniors.

“We’ve done so much better than expected,” said junior Harrison Rikel, who finished 54th at state last year in 18:12 and was one of the few returnees from that squad. “I’m excited to see how we run at state. I just want to get out and do the best I can. It should be interesting.”

Bussen said that with essentially everyone returning next year, Saturday’s race could help set the table for more improvement in 2016.

“Our guys have done a good job all year of staying together,” he said. “If they can do that (at state), I think our goal would be the top 10 (as a team).”

Clovis state runners

Boys: Harrison Rikel, Jr.; Dylan McNaughton, Jr.; Dominic Moreno, So.; Jon Fuentes, Fr.; Bailey Goodgame, Fr.; David Santarosa, Fr.; Trent Allen, Fr.

Girls: Emily Gonzales, Sr.; Holly Steinle, Sr.; Silvia Velasquez, Jr.; Mya Borwick, Jr.; Kelsey McNaughton, So.; Samantha Castro, So; Karli Windham, Fr.