Organ Mountain runners shine at Centennial meet

The Organ Mountain High School cross country program continued its strong start to the season, sweeping both the team and individual competitions at the Centennial Invitational on Saturday, Aug. 28 in Las Cruces.

The Knights had a similar result during the Silver City Invitational on Aug. 21.

In boys varsity, Brett Bybee was the top individual finisher, running the 3.1-mile course in 17 minutes, 53.11 seconds. Teammates Jeron Wisner (18:12.39) and Andrew Parks (18:13.40) finished second and third, respectively.

Also for Organ Mountain, Corbin Coombs took fifth place (18:28.32) and Jonathan Torres was sixth (18:32.63).

Rounding out the rest of the top 10 in the boys competition were: Dax Rios, Centennial, fourth (18:23.56); Eaven Rogers, Centennial, seventh (18:59.53); Ben Widner, Las Cruces, eighth (19:24.25); Alexander Pineda, Centennial, ninth (19:31.17); and Matthew Krizek, Las Cruces, 10^th (19:43.26).

In girls varsity, Organ Mountain’s Makalia Hill was the top individual runner with a time of 24:19.91.

Josslyn Ochoa took third for the Knights after winning the Silver City meet the week before. Ochoa ran the 3.1-mile course in 25:06.14. Teammate Morgan Laws was fourth at 25:14.89.

The rest of the girls top 10 were: Layla Lazarin, Mayfield, second (24:41.12); Aaliyah Schartzer, Centennial, fifth (25:33.11); Claire Ewing, Centennial, sixth (25:36.39); Ryann Nunley, Mayfield, seventh (25:40.94); Joie Hernandez, Las Cruces, eighth (25:45.69); Jada Dean, Centennial, ninth (25:56.50); and Valeria Marmolejo, Las Cruces, 10^th (25:56.72).

“We continue to build on the week before and are making progress,” Organ Mountain cross country coach David Nunez said. “The effort all our kids are giving at practices and meets is commendable. We must continue to be humble and hard-working for things to come together when District and State roll around.”