James Yodice, Journal Staff Writer
Here are the best of the best among Albuquerque-area high school athletes.
Girls Track & Field: Grace Erinle ’27
One of my favorite athletes to watch, in either gender, in any sport. Erinle is simply a force of nature at a track facility, whether she’s dominating the long jump or triple jump, or whether she’s running one of the open sprints. She was a four-time state champion last month, and was possibly New Mexico’s most elite and versatile track and field athlete.
Girls Golf: Adelyn Haas ’27
Haas capped her season with a triumph at the Class 4A state tournament at New Mexico Tech in Socorro, winning by five shots. It capped a five-win wraparound season for Haas, who also captured first place at the Shootout in the Desert at Canyon Club in April, where she edged eventual 5A state champ Kendall Trujillo of La Cueva by a shot. Haas also was the metro tournament runner-up.
Boys Cross Country: Nicholas Ponte ’26
Among several strong candidates, we go with Ponte, who repeatedly excelled on the big stage. He won the Academy Extravaganza, with the fastest time of any boy in any of the divisions. He also won a thrilling duel against La Cueva’s Nikko Mihan at metros, winning by the width of a body. And he ended the year by winning the 4A state title. He was undefeated in races in New Mexico. Headed to Harvard.
