James Yodice, Journal Staff Writer
It was bound to happen, and it happened Friday: the sight of Gianna Rahmer not winning a race here in the metro area.
No one has taken her down in a cross country race in her three seasons at Eldorado — not in a race staged in New Mexico, anyway. Nobody on the track has finished ahead of Rahmer at a local meet, until senior Anna Hastings of Albuquerque Academy beat Rahmer head-to-head in the 1,600-meter final early Friday evening at the Albuquerque Metro Track and Field Championships at Nusenda Community Stadium.
The Brown-bound Hastings, who has been enjoying a terrific spring season, captured the title with a run covering 5 minutes, 3.38 seconds. Rahmer (5:14.11) was the runner-up in her first individual outdoor race in the metro area this spring. She hadn’t run outdoors locally since the Class 5A state cross country championships the first week of November.
“I felt really fit going into this season, and had some really great races early on and that gave me a lot of confidence,” said Hastings. “I think the biggest thing this year is my mentality. (Having decided on a college) took some of the pressure off, so I’m more focused on having a lot of run and leading with joy, rather than focusing on the pressure.”
Grace Erinle of Academy and Rebecca Neal of Highland both were triple champions at metros and had a great duel for high point athlete.
Erinle added titles in the triple jump (36-9 1/2) and the 100 (12.50 seconds) on Friday to her victory in the long jump on Thursday, and she also was a force on the 4×100 and 4×200 sprint relays for the Chargers.
Neal won the discus Friday (with a mark of 102-08) after taking first in the high jump and the javelin on Thursday. She also placed third Friday in the 100-meter high hurdles.
Erinle edged Neal 26-25 for high point honors.
