Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Staff photo: Tony Bullocks Sophomoe Bailey Goodgame, left, and senior Dylan McNaughton helped Clovis High’s boys take second place in their season-opening cross country invitaitonal on Aug. 26 at Ned Houk Park. The Wildcats and Lady Wildcats host District 2-6A competition today, also at Ned Houk, starting with the varsity girls race at 3:30 p.m.
Sports writer
The Clovis High boys cross country team is likely to earn one of three Class 6A state berths in today’s six-school District 2-6A meet at Ned Houk Park. The Wildcats, though, hope to win it.
link Staff photo: Tony Bullocks
Sophomore Bailey Goodgame, left, and senior Dylan McNaughton helped Clovis High’s boys take second place in their season-opening cross country invitational on Aug. 26 at Ned Houk Park. The Wildcats and Lady Wildcats host District 2-6A competition today, also at Ned Houk, starting with the varsity girls race at 3:30 p.m.
The team which appears to be standing in their way is Eldorado.
“We feel like we’ve got a good chance,” CHS cross country coach Mark Bussen said. “We match up well (with the Eagles), from what I’ve seen.”
The varsity girls race is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. at Ned Houk Park, with the boys varsity race to follow. Since the four Albuquerque schools cannot travel a junior varsity squad, a combined boys and girls JV race between CHS and Santa Fe High, amounting to a dual meet, wraps up the day’s activity.
Sophomores Jon Fuentes and Bailey Goodgame have led the team most of the season, but the key is likely what the Cats get from the rest of their squad. Fuentes has been the individual winner in each of Clovis’ three team wins.
They haven’t seen Eldorado this season, but Bussen has been following the Eagles’ progress.
“We’re really pushing to have those other guys run well,” Bussen said. “Our goal is to put (our) No. 5, 6 and 7 (runners) ahead of Eldorado’s No. 5.”
The Cats have three wins, four runnerup finishes and a third-place showing in eight meets this season.
”If we all do our best, we should have a fair shot at beating them,” Goodgame said. “To be able to win it would be good. The guys haven’t won a district title in a long time.”
The Lady Wildcats will have a tough time winning the meet, but have a reasonable chance of getting their team qualified for 6A state competition on Nov. 5 at Rio Rancho, led by junior Kelsey McNaughton.
“I really don’t think we can run with Eldorado,” Bussen said of the girls meet. “Our goal is to get into the state meet.”
McNaughton is a two-time champion in the old District 4-6A, which included Hobbs and Carlsbad. Bussen said he’s tried to keep pressure off her and has told her to just run her best.
“It’ll be tough,” Bussen said. “Eldorado has a pretty good gal. The times Kelsey’s run, she’s been by herself (meaning not pushed) a lot.”
