Young runners enjoy new cross-country programs

A new avenue for middle school students to stay busy and active in Valencia County has arrived.

Belen Middle School and Los Lunas Middle School have both added cross-country as an athletic option.

“We’re super excited to see what these young men and women can do out there,” said Fernando Sisneros, BHS coach.

Sisneros will oversee the BMS program, which is coached by Derek Logan.

“We approached the athletic director (Steven Contreras), who gave us the green light,” said Sisneros, adding that it will serve as a quality feeder program for the high school.

Larry Padilla, Los Lunas cross-country coach, said former LLHS runner Joseph Sandoval leads the LLMS team.

“It will be nice to see the continuation of him doing the same type of workouts we have and modifying every year based on the group he has,” said Padilla.

Some of the middle-school runners took part Aug. 30 in the LLHS scrimmage, where there were positive reviews for the new programs.

“It’s really fun,” said Isabella Bueno, LLMS eighth-grader, who is new to running. “I think it’s my sport. I really like it. Everybody cheers for everybody, and it makes you feel more confident about running.”

There’s a similar reaction from BMS students, like seventh-grader Brooke Alguire.

“Yes, it is hard, but your coaches help you. You learn how to breath and you learn how to keep going,” Alguire said.

Alguire’s classmate, Mia Gabaldon, enjoys running on trails.

“It’s not like running in track,” Gabaldon said. “You can get outside in the city, in the environment around you.”

For Kimberly Perez, a Belen Middle School eighth-grader, training in the weight room is enjoyable.

“You have teammates who support you and you make friends along the way,” Perez said.

The middle school programs have a full schedule, on courses that are slightly shorter in distance compared to 3.1 kilometers for high school runners.

The next meet is Saturday at the Adron Gardner Classic at Belen High School.