Contreras 15th At State Meet

By John Severance
RIO RANCHO – Socorro came away with a ninth-place finish in the girls race and a 10th in the boys race Nov. 7 at the New Mexico High School AAA State Cross country championships.
The Lady Warriors were led by freshman DaMiana Contreras, who finished 15th overall in a time of 19:53.
“All the girls ran personal bests,” Socorro coach Steven Montoya said. “And we beat the team that beat us during the regular season.”
Contreras, who was aiming for a top 20 finish, set the school record.
“I didn’t pay attention to the splits at all. I just ran as fast I could until the finish,” Contreras said.
“Everytime I saw her during the race, she was moving up,” Montoya said.
Eighth grader Dayna Guerro was 22nd overall and finished in 20:30.20.
“I felt real good,” Guerro said. “My goal was to make a PR and finish in the top 30.”
And Guerro accomplished both of her goals with ease.
Others racing for the Socorro girls team were Nikki Mortensen (55th, 21:51.35) , Kaitlin Warden (70th, 23:55.20) and Brittany Webb (73rd, 25:14.60).
Before the meet, Montoya said he was hoping for a fourth to sixth place finish for the boys team.
Even though they were 10th, Montoya seemed pleased.
“We beat both of our district rivals so that’s good.”
The Socorro boys were led by Owen Azevedo, who was 27th overall in 17: 21.20. That, too, was a school record. “I was happy with the way I ran but a little disappointed we didn’t finish better as a team,” Azevedo, a senior, said.
Other finishers for Socorro included Tim Abeyta (37th, 17:42.45), Trey Thunborg (44th, 17:54.35), Dylan Gallegos (50th, 18:03.05), Isaiah Vigil (56th, 18:20.35), Raul Contreras (66th, 18:45.70) and Sierra Cahall (81st, 20:14.85).

Contreras 15th At State Meet