Las Cruces area runners get taste of state competition

Las Cruces area cross country runners got a sneak peak at what the state championships might be like.

Organ Mountain High and other Las Cruces teams participated in the Academy Extravaganza Pre-State Invitational, hosted by Albuquerque Academy on Oct. 16. The same school will host the state meet on the same course on Nov. 6

The Organ Mountain boys team took fifth place in Division A despite missing one of its top runners who missed the meet because of a family event.

The Knights were led by Brett Bybee, who took fourth place with a time of 16 minutes, 15.33 seconds over 3.1 miles.

Other notable finishers in the boys Division A race were: Jonathan Torres, Organ Mountain, 15^th (16:56.11); Corbin Combs, Organ Mountain, 20^th (17:09.67); Alexander Pineda, Centennial, 29^th (17:23.26); and Andrew Parks, Organ Mountain, 36^th (17:32.02).

In the girls Division A, Organ Mountain took 13^th place. The Knights were led by Josslynn Ochoa, who finished 48^th (21:55.39).

Layla Lazarin, of Mayfield, took 61^st in the same race (22:18.97), and Makaila Hill, of Organ Mountain, was 64^th (22:23.05).