Mike Powers|News-Bulletin photos
A tightly bunched field of runners leaves the stadium to start the boys’ race at the Los Lunas Invitational cross country meet.
Los Lunas
Larry Padilla has been the meet director for hundreds of cross country and track competitions over the decades but never one like this. Los Lunas Invitational not only featured a large, talented cross country field but a celebrity guest and a “ring of fire,” an annular solar eclipse right in the middle of the event.
Los Lunas runner Uzziah Telles catches a glimpse of the eclipse during the Los Lunas Invitational cross country meet.
“I wasn’t concerned, but about a thousand other people were concerned,” said Padilla, the LLHS coach. “I got calls from parents, coaches, the press,” wondering about the wisdom of hosting the meet during a celestial showcase. Padilla made accommodations for people who had concerns, pausing the races during the height of the eclipse and making an indoor space available.
As the “ring of fire” took full affect, a cheer arose from the field, with many of the competitors and spectators using protective glasses to enjoy the spectacle.
“It’s pretty unique, a once in a lifetime experience,” Belen runner Santiago Sisneros shared as he was stretching. Teammate Kyle Glodt agreed. “It’s kind of fun. Looking at the sun, seeing the whole ring around it.”
Los Lunas, Belen and Valencia were among the schools competing in the Los Lunas Invitational cross country meet.
The girls’ race was held first, before the eclipse. Valencia’s Francesca Otero led the way for the Jaguars in 21st place, just two days after competing in a VHS soccer match. “It’s a hard transition because they’re so different. Especially with basketball too. The court, the field, the sand.”
Individual winner Kate Henderson, who had a time of 19:57 on the 5K course, carried Sandia Prep to victory in the girls’ meet. Belen was fifth as a team, with Lisette Sanchez finishing eleventh. Los Lunas came in twelfth, with Claire Kilcullen the top Tiger runner in 37th.
Thomas Valles, whose inspirational story was highlighted in the movie “McFarland USA,” was a popular guest at the Los Lunas Invitational cross country meet.
For the boys, Organ Mountain edged Los Lunas for the team title on a tiebreaker. Belen was eighth and Valencia thirteenth. Individually, Corbin Coombs of Organ Mountain was medalist at 16:29, with Eneas Armijo of LLHS third in 17:38. Victor Ramirez of VHS was ninth, with Glodt the top Belen runner in 23rd position.
Among those enjoying the show was Thomas Valles, whose inspirational story was highlighted in the 2015 Disney movie “McFarland USA,” starring Kevin Costner. Between signing autographs and posing for pictures, Valles explained he loves telling young people how he overcame adversity. “It’s kind of like a sense of responsibility,” Valles says about sharing his message. “I tell kids what the sport did for us (his high school teammates.) It led us to higher education and the careers were in now.”
For the special occasion, coach Padilla wrote a poem titled “The Runners Eclipse,” that was printed on tee shirts. It ended, “Now we have a day to remember, A runner’s dream will never surrender, They chose to name it, “The Ring of Fire” Never a match for a runner’s desire.”
Mike Powers spent more than 40 years as a television news and sports anchor, mostly in the Albuquerque market. He has won numerous awards including New Mexico Sportscaster of the Year. He covers a wide range of sports, including the Valencia County prep scene.
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April 25, 2024
