Williams Crowned 2A Champ

  • With the Sandia Mountains as a background, Lucas Williams, a junior at Laguna-Acoma High School is this year's 2A cross country champion. Williams blazed across the fast course at Academy High School with a time of 16:18.91. Franklin Romero - CC
    With the Sandia Mountains as a background, Lucas Williams, a junior at Laguna-Acoma High School is this year's 2A cross country champion. Williams blazed across the fast course at Academy High School with a time of 16:18.91. Franklin Romero - CC

After crossing the finish line first with a time of 16:18.91 at the state cross country tournament, Laguna- Acoma junior, Lucas Williams, was crowned state champion in the 2A 5,000-meter race. Williams said, “I wanted to get out there and have fun–-a few nerves here and there—I just got rid of them–I’m here for myself, my teammates and fans,” said Wililams “I focused on getting out there and having fun got us 3rd place as a team”.

The race held at Academy High School's crosscountry track, which is considered a fast track, was packed with a total of 172 competitors. Lucas’s teammate Pedro Togayo, a sophomore, was on the heels of Williams with a second-place finish and a time of 16:23.91.

“My thoughts on the game were to keep up with Lucas and run smart—not take it too hard,” said Togayo of his race. “I locked in this morning preparing for the race”.

Rounding out the Laguna- Acoma team were Sheldon Chermiah who placed 6th with a time of 16:58.14, Xavier Lorenzo (18:07.13) and Jordan Victorino (19.08.18).

The Laguna-Acoma boys team placed third at the meet with 76 points and a total time of 1:26:56.28 and an average time of 17:23.26.

The Laguna-Acoma lady Hawks cross country team also competed at the 2A state cross country meet and placed 5th with a total time of 1:54:57.55 and an average time of 22:59.51.

Mia Smith placed 3rd with a time of 19:52.89. “I ran hard and know I can do better in the future, “ said Smith. Smith’s teammates Tayla Vicente ran with a time of 22:30.62 followed by Alessia Cheromiah with a time of 23:05.40, Justina Brown with a time of 23:18.37 and Jamyn Carrillo with a time of 26.10.27.

Laguna-Acoma cross country head coach, Lacey Natseway, said, “We practiced what we normally do and I am happy with our team's results.” Natseway is eager for next season as well as she has a young team to work with.