Cavegirls, Jocelyn Baca, First at Cloudcroft Invitational

By Don Eskins

Carlsbad High’s Cross Country teams got off with a bang at the Cloudcroft Invitational in Cloudcroft on Friday, August 29.

The Cavegirls, behind Jocelyn Baca’s first-place effort, grabbed championship honors at the meet.

Baca covered the Cloudcroft course in a time of 25’14”46, about 37 seconds ahead of Alamogordo runner-up Addyson Gonzalez, who came in at 25’52”25.

Also scoring for the Cavegirls were: 5. Rainelle Ruiz, 26’36”45; 8. Alyssa Balencia, 28’11”11; 9. Alessandra Aguilar, 28’13”26; and 14. Olivai Long, 31’07”67.

In the boys’ division, the Cavemen placed second. Leading the way for CHS was Caleb Vasquez. Vasquez, who claimed runner-up honors at the meet, turned in a time of 18’45”98.

Also scoring were: 6. Jayvion Scott, 20’15”93; 8. Aiden Mendez, 20’27”87; 9. Josiah Waddle, 20”45”16; and 15. Coisen Smith, 21’18”42.

“I was beyond proud of the girls. Their performance was the strongest start to a new season the women’s program has had in years. Coach Jeffress has done an amazing job rallying them together,” said CHS head coach Michael Sims.

“I was also proud of the effort we got from our boys. They’re on the right track, too; they just had a few things show up in their performance that we need to iron out,” he said.

On Friday, September 5, the CHS cross country squads will compete at the Mescalero Apache Invitational. Action is scheduled to get underway at 5 p.m.

Cloudcroft Meet Results

Girls Varsity

Team: 1. Carlsbad 37, 2. Alamogordo 41, 3. Cobre 48

Cavegirls: 1. Jocelyn Baca, 25’14”46; 5. Rainelle Ruiz, 26’36”45; 8. Alyssa Balencia, 28’11”11; 9. Alessandra Aguilar, 28’13”26; 14. Olivai Long, 31’07”67; 18. Jaydance Gutierrez, 33’45”87.

Girls Junior Varsity: 1. Soledad Martinez, 26’01”; 7. Chaleesta Gonzalez, 32’56”; 8. Jeannette Gonzalez, 33’42”; 9. Zoey Wright, 41’36”.

Boys Varsity

Team: 1. Alamogordo, 2. Carlsbad, 3. Hagerman, 4. Cloudcroft (Pts. Unavailable)

Cavemen: 2. Caleb Vasquez, 18’45”98; 6. Jayvion Scott, 20’15”93; 8. Aiden Mendez, 20’27”87; 9. Josiah Waddle, 20”45”16; 15. Coisen Smith, 21’18”42; 18. Rex Reynolds, 21’28”79’ 21. Dany Hernandez, 22’59”94.

Boys Junior Varsity: Cavemen JVs: 1. Urijah Yorgesen, 22’26”61; 2. Kleyvin Hernandez, 22’31”00; 4. Nathan Walls, 23’08”59; 5. Kasen Calderon, 24’01”68; 6. James Lopez, 24’24”87; 11. Gavino Olivas, 26’43”72; 21. Skyelar Wood, 41’35”16.

The top five times in both boys’ and girls’ competition score points.