Weekend Roundup: Pecos' Varela takes state; Kazingo makes cut

Pecos’ Antonio Varela won an individual state title in the state high school cross country championship meet Saturday in Rio Rancho. And roughly a thousand miles to the northeast, in Wayne, Neb., Highlands’ Nicaise Kazingo punched his ticket to the NCAA Division II nationals.

NMAA state high school

cross country championships

Class 3A girls individual highlights

1. Kate Norskog, St. Michael’s, 18:05.9

2. Olivia Mermejo, Santa Fe Indian, 18:57.4

3. Allycia Gashytewa, Zuni, 18:58.9

14. Kaitlin Hutchinson, Robertson, 19:52.5

21. Amanda Ortzow, West Las Vegas, 20:18.75

45. Karlene Montano, Robertson, 21:06.2

Class 3A girls team highlights

1. Zuni, 64

2. Santa Fe Indian, 71

3. St. Michael’s, 85

4. Wingate, 93

4. Miyamura, 93

Class 2A girls individual highlights

1. Caroline Kaufman, East Mountain, 18:35.6

2. Adrienne Montoya, Estancia, 18:59.1

3. Maddie Carey, Bosque School, 19:13.8

13. Margarita Gonzales, Pecos, 20:27.9

49. Amber Rougemount, Pecos, 22:32.6

72. Gabriella Dalton, Pecos, 24:04.4

73. Denise Lujan, Pecos, 24:04.5

91. Amanda White, Pecos, 28:18.9

Class 2A girls team highlights

1. Bosque School, 52

2. Navajo Pine, 82

3. Penasco, 111

4. Santa Fe Prep, 125

5. Navajo Prep, 133

12. Pecos, 260

Class 3A boys individual highlights

1. Evan Bekis, Bloomfield, 15:51.6

2. Eric Fenton, Hope Christian, 15:56.7

3. James Viarreal, Pojoaque Valley, 16:07.8

14. Brian Maestas, Robertson, 16:54.9

44. Jordan Lopez, West Las Vegas, 17:48.9

93. Adrian Gallegos, West Las Vegas, 20:25.5

Class 3A boys team highlights

1. Santa Fe Indian, 55

2. Pojoaque Valley, 82

3. Miyamura, 104

4. Zuni, 119

5. Laguna-Acoma, 147

Class 2A boys individual highlights

1. Antonio Varela, Pecos, 15:30.1

2. Timothy Chee, Navajo Pine, 15:34.3

3. Troy Madalena, Jemez Valley, 16:32

4. Jonathan Romero, 16:37.3

5. Henrique Chavez, Mora, 16:41.8

16. Paul C De Baca, Pecos, 17:26.9

18. Brandon Velasquez, Pecos, 17:33.5

19. Enoch Gonzales, Pecos, 17:37.2

57. Justin Quintana, Pecos, 18:44.8

63. Adam Varela, Pecos, 19:02.3

67. Alonzo Chavez, Mora, 19:08.4

72. Derek Hurtado, Mora, 19:16.7

73. Joshua Alcon, Mora, 19:20.8

97. Jonathan Torrez, Pecos, 20.11.1

107. Adam Laumbach, Mora, 20:48.7

133. Issac Duran, Mora, 24:21.8

Class 2A boys team highlights

1. Jemez Valley, 56

2. Peñasco, 81

3. Pecos, 102

4. Navajo Pine, 119

5. Santa Fe Prep, 130

11. Mora, 286

•••

NCAA II Central Regional

cross country championships

Women’s 8K individual highlights

1. Morgan Place, Minnesota-Duluth, 21:39

2. Kristen McGlynn, Adams State, 21:59

3. Alicia Nelson, Adams State, 22:02

31. Carolina Garcia, NMHU, 23:09

68. Sandra Martinez, NMHU, 24:13

74. Reyna Montaño, NMHU, 24:25

80. Ashley Lovato, NMHU, 24:38

121. Brieanna Roper, NMHU, 26:12

138. Nancy Anel, NMHU, 27:53

Women’s team highlights

1. Adams State, 36

2. Western State, 88

3. Augustana (S.D.), 90

4. University of Mary, 169

5. Metro State, 175

13. NMHU, 373 (22 teams total)

Men’s 10K individual highlights

1. Brian Medigovich, Adams State, 30:57

2. Aaron Braun, Adams State, 30:57

3. Reuben Mwei, Adams State, 30:57

7. Nicaise Kazingo, NMHU, 31:42

19. Moses Kirui, NMHU, 32:38

78. Gabriel Vidal, NMHU, 35:03

84. John Ronoh, NMHU, 35:23

98. Joshua Garcia, NMHU, 36:12

100. Mario Armijo, NMHU, 36:15

106. Chris Apodaca, NMHU, 36:32

Men’s team highlights

1. Adams State, 20

2. Western State, 47

3. Colorado School of Mines, 100

4. Metro State, 142

5. Augustana (S.D.), 143

9. NMHU, 283 (19 teams total)

• • •

Harlon Hill candidate David Pesek of Colorado School of Mines torched the New Mexico Highlands defense Saturday, completing 36 of 48 passes for 506 yards, six touchdowns with no interceptions. The host Orediggers won 69-27 in the regular season finale, held in Golden, Colo.

CSM’s Adam Saur tied a school record for catches in a season after netting 14 receptions for 216 yards and four TDs.

Highlands scored twice in the first quarter, avoiding a slow start and keeping pace with the Diggers in a wild 21-14 tally for the period.

But while Mines was able to sustain the prolific offensive fireworks, the Cowboys could not and trailed 42-21 at half and 62-27 after three periods.

CSM held NMHU to negative 33 yards rushing, helping to offset the effectiveness of the Cowboy aerial attack. (Narciso Diaz was 26 of 45 for 357 yards, three TDs, three interceptions; Kevon Williams had eight grabs for 145 yards and a score; former Robertson wideout Daniel Valdez had two catches for 27 yards, and ex-West Las Vegas Don Justin Gallegos had one catch for 5 yards.)

Highlands finishes 1-9 and 1-7 in its second season under coach Chad Roanhaus.