Breaking the log jam at the top of the Class 4A state cross country podium that has been owned by Los Alamos and Albuquerque Academy is likely too much to ask, but the Española Valley girls may have the squad that can challenge that status quo, or at least grab a podium spot.
The Sundevils are coming off a solid fifth-place finish a year ago and all but one of those athletes is returning, coach Loren Martinez said.
“They are powerhouse programs and it hurts us a lot because Los Alamos is in our district,” he said, adding that either the Hilltoppers or Chargers have won the state championship the past 17 years and 25 of the past 26. “But at the same time, it’s good because it’s a good benchmark to show us what we have to do try and do to catch them.”…