Cavegirl Cross Country Team Ready to Run

kmarksteiner0
Aug 13
2 min read

By Don Eskins

Eager and ready to run in 2025, Carlsbad High’s Cavegirl Harriers will kick off the new season in Cloudcroft on August 29.

Although young, the Cavegirls will be returning the corps of last year’s squad to make a run at this year’s conference title.

“We’ve got a great group of young girls out to run this year,” said CHS Head Cross Country Coach Michael Sims. “I’m already excited about them and the opportunities that lie ahead of them this season.

“Although they work hard, as a group they’re pretty young and still have a way to go to contend for this year’s District 4/5A title,” he said. “But the season is long, and if we can keep the injury bug at bay, I think our kids can be very competitive this season.”

Cavegirl junior Alyssa Balencia, All-District in 2024, is expected to lead this season’s team.

“Alyssa has a great work ethic and has been our most consistent runner for the past two years,” said Sims. “She’s become a leader for us, and when we need her the most, I know she’ll always show up, whether it be in practice or a meet.”

Also expected to run well this season—and possibly push Balencia for this year’s top spot on the Cavegirl squad—is freshman Rainelle Ruiz.

“As an eighth grader last year, we saw a lot of very good things from Rainelle. She’s a very tactical runner,” said the CHS coach. “She knows when to cover ground, when to cover back, and she’s very good at pacing herself. To have skills like that at such a young age is impressive.”

Besides Balencia and Ruiz, Sims said they’ll also be getting lots of support from sophomores Jocelyn Baca and Alessandra Aguilar.

“Jocelyn came out late last year, so this will be her first full season. We look for her to do some amazing things this year. She’s very competitive and has a lot of drive,” said Sims. “Alessandra also competed well for us last year, and we expect her to do so again this year.

“Olivia Long, a sophomore who ran JV last season, has shown a lot of potential during workouts,” added the Cavegirl coach. “We feel she’s going to have a great shot at landing a varsity spot.”

The girls’ conference field looks to be extremely tough this season as 2024 District 45A champion Clovis, runner-up Hobbs, and Roswell, who placed fourth behind the Cavegirls, have all returned key personnel.

“Clovis and Hobbs do look tough, and unseating them won’t be easy,” said Sims. “But I wouldn’t rule out our girls’ chances to do just that.”

CHS Cross Country Schedule 2025

Cavegirls and Cavemen

Date Site Team Time

Aug. 29 Cloudcroft JV/V/JH 4 p.m.

Sept. 5 Mescalero Apache Invite V/JV/JH 5 p.m.

Sept. 13 UNM JV/V/JH 8 a.m.

Sept. 20 NMMI JV/V/JH 9 a.m.

Sept. 27 Roswell V/JV/JH 9 a.m.

Oct. 4 Carlsbad JV/V/JH 9 a.m.

Oct. 10 Artesia JV/V/JH 4 p.m.

Oct. 18 Academy Extravaganza Varsity 2 p.m.