HOBBS HIGH SCHOOL EAGLES

NEWS-SUN STAFF REPORT

A quartet of top 10 finishers helped the Hobbs girls cross country team top the Clovis Invitational on Friday in Clovis. The Lady Eagles topped second-place Cleveland and third-place Rio Rancho, both ranked in the preseason top three. “The girls ran amazing,” coach Bob Jackson said. “They grouped together well and showed a lot of courage in the last mile of the race by not losing any places and our number 5, 6, and 7 runners were passing runners, which helped secure the victory.” Andrea Wittman led Hobbs with a thirdplace finish and a time of 19:51, a pace of 6:37 per mile. Blanca Zubia finished in fifth place with a time of 20:10, a pace of 6:43 per mile. Wittman and Zubia led early in the race before being passed by the preseason No. 1 and 2 runners in the state after the first mile. Jackson said the pair were close throughout the race, never letting the leaders get too far ahead. “They perhaps were a little aggressive the first mile and could have started a little easier, which would have made the race even closer,” Jackson said. “They went for the win from the gun, and you have to respect that type of competitive attitude.” Audrey Baeza finished in ninth place with a time of 20:33 and Jherica Rhodes finished in 10th place with a time of 20:38, rounding out the top four Lady Eagles. Running in her first ever cross country race, Kelsi Lewis rounded out the scoring team with a 13th-place finish in 21:18. “The girls had a pretty relaxed summer in regard to training so it is truly exciting to run this well knowing we are no where near the shape we will be in two months from now,” Jackson said.
    The Hobbs boys cross country team finished in third place behind Rio Rancho and Clovis, respectively.