CHS, PHS tracksters eye trophy finishes

CLOVIS – Clovis High’s boys are unlikely to compete for a team championship in this weekend’s Class 5A state meet in Albuquerque, but the Wildcats could be among a number of teams looking for a top-3 finish and a team trophy.

Everybody is chasing Rio Rancho Cleveland, the six-time defending 5A champion and winner in nine of the last 10 state meets, Wildcats coach Mark Sena said.

“Cleveland is probably the favorite going away,” Sena said as the Cats, who have never won a state team title, gear up for Friday and Saturday’s competition at the University of New Mexico track facility in Albuquerque. “They’ve got somebody (with) quality in just about every event.

“We’re all just trying to chase them.”

A number of teams should be battling for position behind the Storm, Sena said.

“I would include us in that group if we have a really good meet,” he said. “There are possibly four or five teams in that group.”

Leading the way for the Cats is senior R.J. Nora, who has qualified in 10 events – including four relays. He’s in the top two coming in in long jump and both hurdles races, and may end up running the 1,600 medley relay, where Clovis comes in seeded second.

Sophomore distance runner Sammy Fuentes could help the Cats in a couple of relays as well. Clovis has qualified in 16 of 20 events, but with just 14 individuals choices will have to be made to best use the talent, Sena said.

He said a meet in Amarillo early in the season against mainly Texas competition showed him that his squad had potential.

“That gave us some confidence because we competed pretty well over there,” Sena said.

Meantime, the Clovis girls have a couple of potential state champions in senior Madison Parkin (pole vault) and sophomore Gabrielle Foggie (400). Parkin finished second to then-teammate Camryn Barros two years again before winning the event last year, while Foggie claimed the 400 state title last spring.

Coach Darrel Ray, who led the Lady Wildcats to three state titles between 2006 and 2009, said his squad just doesn’t have the depth to compete for a state team crown. The Lady Cats are in all five relays and have six individual qualifiers.

Alamogordo is the defending 5A champion, and Ray said Rio Rancho is also strong.

“Hobbs could maybe be a trophy team, if everything falls right for them,” Ray said.

Portales – PHS will take 11 boys and 14 girls to the Class 4A state meet. Coach Quintin Wilson said the boys should have contenders for state crowns in senior Michael Riess (800, 1,600, medley relay) and junior Manny Chavez (javelin).

Wilson has backed Riess off a bit lately due to some nagging injuries, but said he should be ready to go. Riess was third in the 800 and fourth in the 1,600 a year ago.

“Every time he steps on the track, he believes he can win,” Wilson said. “He’s a competitor; I like his competitiveness.”

Chavez enters state as the top seed in javelin.

:”The thing is, all the rankings don’t mean anything,” Wilson said. “When you get there, you’ve got to perform.”

The Lady Rams, coming off a District 4-4A crown last weekend, are in four relays at state, and Wilson thinks all should be competitive.

“I think we have a chance to (be on the) podium (top 6) in all four relays,” he said.

Los Alamos has been the cream of the crop lately in 4A, capturing both team titles in each of the last two years. The Lady Rams are shooting for a team trophy, Wilson said.

“If we can be in the top three, I’ll be as happy as I can be for the girls,” he said. “Your goal is always to win state, but just looking at Los Alamos, it seems like everyone else is running for second (place).”

The PHS girls won their only previous team state title in 1974, while the boys are seeking their first crown.