Cross country: Clovis takes first at pre-district

CARLSBAD — In their final tune-up before the District 4-5A meet, both Clovis cross country teams fared well during this past Thursday’s Pre-District tri-meet at Carlsbad Lake, especially the boys.

The Wildcats won their race with 25 points, followed by Hobbs with 31 and Carlsbad with 55.

The Lady Wildcats took second with 40, behind Hobbs’ 20 and ahead of Carlsbad’s 51.

Hobbs runners captured first in both varsity events, as Patrick Colborn won the boys race (15:29) and Mitzi Madrid took the girls competition (19:50).

Clovis’ Jon Fuentes was second on the boys side with a time of 15:31, followed close behind by teammate Jerrick Maldonado in third at 15:43.

Clovis’ T.J. Gregg was fourth (16:04), Elias Calderon seventh (17:32), Kannon Brooks ninth (17:37), Colton Wolf 11th (17:52) and Kyle Richardson 19th (18:48).

“It was a really good meet for us,” Clovis head coach Mark Bussen said. “Jose Salas, our No. 4, was out with tendinitis in his lower leg. I was a little nervous without him, trying to stay on top of Hobbs again. But those (top three) guys, they’re just running really fast right now.”

Clovis’ top girls finisher was Annalysse Hamlett in third with a time of 20:42. The Lady Wildcats’ Shylee Tree was fifth at 21:26.

Clovis’ Veronica Perez took eighth (22:16), Faith Hays 10th (22:32), Layla Walley 14th (23:31), Ali Tree 15th (23:59) and Fatima Hernandez 16th (24:35).

“On the girls side we had a pretty good meet,” Bussen said. “Hobbs’ girls have gotten better. We’re getting close to them; we’ve got to split them a little bit better than we did (Thursday). ... It’s just tough at this point in the season, kids are running hard.”

James Burroughes was Clovis’ top JV boys finisher, placing fifth at 19:39.

Clovis had one runner compete in the girls junior varsity race — Ava Munoz, who was 12th, with a time of 29:09.

Clovis returns to action Friday, with the district meet at Ned Houk Park. The boys will race at 3 p.m., with the girls to follow.