Early favorites established at McGaffey scrimmage

MCGAFFEY, N.M.

The Tohatchi Invitational on Friday will open the 2017 prep cross-country season but some of the area schools got an early start by taking part in the McGaffey scrimmage last Saturday.

They used the scrimmage as a way to get a feel for where they stand.

Miyamura junior Ty McCray and Gallup senior Jessica Ramirez were the overall winners but there was no official time kept at this seven-team scrimmage.

“This is a start,” McCray said. “It’s going to help build my confidence for the upcoming season because I’m trying to catch the state’s No. 1 runner.”

McCray was referring to Kirtland Central junior Kashon Harrison, who won a majority of his meets last season.

“Everyone is going to be chasing him,” McCray said of Harrison.

Team-wise, Miyamura coach Robert Torres and Gallup coach Wilbert Nez say the Kirtland Central Broncos are the powerhouse in 5A District 1.

“KC has been running all summer,” Nez said. “I seen them at Narbona Pass and they are going to be really strong.”

In addition to KC, Torres said Aztec and Farmington are going to be right up there.

“In our district it’s going to be tough but we are going to run with them,” he said. “Compared to last year it’s a rebuilding year for both boys and girls.”

With only two boys and three girls that have state experience, Torres said they are going to try to develop both teams for the district meet as the top three teams qualify for state.

Gallup, meanwhile, has experience on its side as a majority of the boys team is made up of seniors.

“Most of the guys are seniors and we have a huge group,” he said. “We have some young guys that are coming in. We have three freshmen that are really pushing the front group and ideally this is the thing that you really want for your team.”

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