The cross country program at Los Lunas High School has been consistent during the 31 years that Larry Padilla has been head coach — consistently good.
In almost every year under Padilla, the Tigers have won a district title, either girls or boys or both.
The Tigers expect to do it again, with the boys’ team deeper and more experienced than the girls’ squad, which features only one varsity runner returning. At last years’ district meet, only five girls were on the team.
“COVID kind of scared kids away, wearing masks while running …” Padilla said.
This year, there is a noticeable increase with 12 girls to start practice.
Senior captain Kiyah Padilla, no relation to the coach, has been the Tigers’ top runner for three years. Padilla is striving for a personal record time and reaching the state championship.
Padilla, who was the top Tiger finisher in the recent scrimmage, is thrilled to have more teammates to train with.
“I think the younger girls are going to be a help to us,” Padilla said. “It’ll be good for us having new people.”
Mike Powers|News Bulletin photo
Kiyah Padilla led the way for the Los Lunas girls during the recent scrimmage
Some of the “new” people the coach expects to strengthen the team include freshman Serena Jaramillo and foreign exchange student Marie DeNys, of Belgium, a senior who is a newcomer to cross country.
The Tiger boys are a good bet to successfully defend their district title, thanks to experience at the top of the roster. Home-schooled Micah Sparks is the top returning runner, finishing first in the Los Lunas scrimmage. He’ll be pushed by junior Eneas Armijo, a state USA track champion as a 12 year old, and junior Logan Martin who has been on the team since eighth grade.
Senior Austin Watts is a team leader, coming off his first full year in cross country. Watts believes good, old fashioned sweat is what will separate the Tigers from the pack.
“I want everybody to work as hard as they can this year,” Watts said. “It’s about the entire team being a system in every single race. Everybody’s run counts.”
Coach Padilla says believing in the kids is only part of his job.
“More importantly, we have to get them to believe in themselves and what they can do.”
Los Lunas opens the season Saturday, Sept. 3, in the Jemez Valley Invitational.
Original source found here.
Alerts Sign-up