Navajo Pine boys win Rio Rancho Jamboree
Grants Pirate Michael Anzures makes his way to the finish line on Saturday morning at the Rio Rancho Jamboree in Rio Rancho, N.M. Anzures finished first in the boys’ Varsity Division with a time of 17:18. (Times photo – Donovan Quintero)
ABOVE: Grants Pirate Michael Anzures makes his way to the finish line on Saturday morning at the Rio Rancho Jamboree in Rio Rancho, N.M. Anzures finished first in the boys’ Varsity Division with a time of 17:18. (Times photo – Donovan Quintero)
RIO RANCHO, N.M.
As the runners were trickling inside Rio Rancho’s football stadium, Navajo Pine boys coach Brandon Leslie had a lot on his mind.
Leslie wasn’t sure how his team fared among the 36 teams that participated in the Varsity Division of the Rio Rancho Jamboree.
The first-year coach heard from other coaches that his team placed second. But when the numbers were finally tallied, Leslie’s team came out on top, winning the meet with 104 points.
Aztec finished in second place with 156 points while Grants came in fourth with 221 behind sophomore Michael Anzures, who won the meet.
“I knew we would be in the top three but like I told the guys before the race, ‘You have the opportunity to win this race,’” Leslie said. “There was no doubt in my mind they could do that but it was up to them. They had to want it and they had to do the work.”
The Warriors placed three runners in the top 20 with senior Alvin Curley (17:45) leading the way with a sixth place finish. Terrence Lee (18:03) came in next with an 11th place effort while Keenan Nez (18:15) garnered the 20th place medal.
With a time of 18:44, Navajo Pine’s Wyatt Davis placed 39th overall as he finished ahead of teammate Tristan White (18:45) to complete the team score.
“I’m surprised that we won it,” Curley said. “Everything is finally coming together for us and we’re getting ready for the state championships.”
Highway 264,
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