ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- You could say that the Albuquerque Academy girls cross country team is loaded for bear for Saturday‘s APS Metro Championships.
A lone runner heads off on the Albuquerque Academy cross country course.
That’s because a year ago, the lost to rival La Cueva by one slim point.
“It’s kind of gotten away from us the last couple of years and I know my girls would really like to win it this year,” said Chargers coach Claudia Bergsohn. “It’s important in that it gives us the feeling of winning rather than it really matters.”
Albuquerque Academy has had a stand-out season so far, winning four its six meets as it prepares for the state meet and then post-season, national meets.
But the Metro Championship has proven to be elusive.
“The past couple of years, something always comes up at the last minute and we haven’t been able to pull it together,” Bergsohn said. “Injuries or people out for one reason or another. But this year, we’re ready so it should be good.”
The Chargers are built around senior Paige Throckmorton and junior Julia Foster, who are usually in the lead pack of every race they’re in/
“We’ve got a great team,” Bergsohn said. “I’m really proud of the girls. They’ve worked really hard. They’re doing well. ”
Albuquerque Academy cross country runners Paige Throckmorton and Julia Foster.
For Throckmorton, this will be her final competitive meet at her home course and she’s ready to get after it.
“This is important for me,” she said. “This is going to be my last meet on this course. I’m definitely going for top five.”
Since it has been several years since the Chargers have carried off the winner’s trophy, Throckmorton said that makes this meet all the more important.
“I’ve been on the varsity since I was in eighth grade,” she said. “I think we’ve won city a couple of times since then, but I think it’s a big deal for us to win this meet this year.”
After last season, the Chargers are particularly fired up to get back to the winner’s circle.
“We just want to win this year because last year we lost by one point,” Foster said. “That was disappointing. This year we really want to do well because it’s our home course and we’re familiar with the terrain and we train here everyday.”
And while rival La Cueva stood in their way last year, there really isn’t any animosity, Throckmorton said.
A group of runners prepare for the APS Metro Cross Country Championships.
“I wouldn’t say we owe them paybacks,” she said. “We know La Cueva has a very good team. And hopefully, we’re going to beat them.”
Having the meet at their home course should help a bit, Foster said.
“Just being familiar with all the little nuances of it, like where the deeper sand is and where to run is important,” she said. “I think it makes a little bit a of a difference. But mostly on race day, your fitness is really going to be important.”
Besides, teams like the Bears are out on the course on a regular basis.
“I would say we have an advantage because we better understand it,” Throckmorton said of the Chargers home course. “But anyone can get that advantage on any course. La Cueva comes out on our course and runs out there all the time.”
With the meet drawing closer, it’s difficult to stay focused.
“I’m a little bit excited. I won’t lie,” Throckmorton said.
And Foster added, “Probably some of our classmates will be watching us at home.”
Still, this is just another meet on the way to the end of the season.
“We just want to do well,” Foster said. “But it’s just another step toward our bigger goal, which is state and post season.”
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