Albuquerque, New Mexico- The 2026 Metro Championships for track and field are in the book, here’s who caught my eye throughout two days of competition. I will have five chalk picks, and five athletes who are a bit under the radar. For what’s worth, I wanted to talk about more athletes. However, just don’t have the time.

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Metro standouts (female)

1. Albuquerque Academy’s Grace Erinle (junior)- Erinle scored the most points out of anyone at Metros-regardless of gender- and was a five-time Metro champion in individual events this past Saturday (three individual events, and two relays. Also, Academy won as a team). She’s one of the blue chip athletes in the state, and should be a favorite for Gatorade Player of the year.
2. Cleveland’s Morgan James (senior)- James conquered both hurdling events, and came in second place in the long jump with a leap of 18’0″ (top 5A mark there), which was just one inch shy of Erinle who took first. I believe James has qualified for state in four events, and the Boise State bound talent is a sneaky pick to score the most points out of any 5A female athlete at the state championships. She will be pivotal for a Cleveland team that looks like a serious contender for the 2026 blue trophy.
3. Rio Rancho’s Mariah Galbraith (sophomore)- Galbraith coasted in the 3200m en route to a Metro title, and could very well finish the season as the state champion in the event. She’ll have districts this week, and I think even more momentum could energize quite the state performance for Galbraith. The Rams have won back-to-back state titles, and could very well win three with athletes like Galbraith.
4. Highland’s Rebecca Neal (senior)- Neal was the Metro champion in three events: the javelin, the discus, and the high jump. Neal also scored the second most points at Metros, and the Delaware State bound talent is clearly one of the favorites to score the most points for any 5A school at the state championships.
5. Sandia’s Gianna Archuleta (junior)- Archuleta has a ton of speed, and a heck of a kick to finish races. She was a double champion this past Saturday, claiming first place in the 200m and the 400m. Excited to see her perform the rest of the season.

Metro under-the-radar standouts (female)

1. St. Pius X’s Jaelyn Olloway (freshman)- Olloway posted the fastest time in the prelims for the 200m. Unfortunately, St. Pius X did not compete in the second day of Metros but Olloway was one that caught my eye.
2. Albuquerque Academy’s Jac Lujan (sophomore)- Lujan took third place in the 3200m, and was the only 4A runner to crack the top nine. I’m curious to see what events she competes at in state, she should provide some nice points for Academy. Also, she’s probably your go-to if you need to learn a TikTok dance.
3. Bernalillo’s Trinity Calabaza (junior)- Calabaza is one of the best basketball players in the state, and she could have a state title in shot put by season’s end. Calabaza took 3rd place, and was the top non-5A thrower in attendance.
4. Albuquerque’s Anayjah Garza (freshman)- Garza is a speedster, no question about it, and was the runner-up in the 100m race. In first place in that event, Academy’s Grace Erinle. It would be awesome to see Garza win a state title as a freshman. She’ll be a household name for years to come.
5. Cleveland’s Meg Mauermann (junior)- Mauermann finished in second place in the 3200m run, posting a 11:53.20 time which qualified her for state and was a PR. Again, I think Cleveland can make a push for the state title, and if that’s the case, every point counts. Mauermann could get some nice points for the Storm at state.

Metro standouts (male)

1. La Cueva’s Tanner Montano (senior) & Jhett Kinghorn (senior)- Montano took first in the long jump, and helped their 4x200m relay team to victory. Another leg in that relay was Jhett Kinghorn who also took first place in the pole vault. This duo should bring a truckload of points to the Bears especially come the state championships. Montano could also earn his second Gatorade Player of the Year award.
2. Albuquerque Academy’s Nicholas Ponte (senior)- It was business as usual for the reigning Gatorade Player of the Year as Ponte brought two Metro titles back to Academy. First, Ponte ran a blazing time in the mile, and was the only runner to post a sub-4:30 time (4:28.76). He also put on a show in the 4x800m relay race.
3. Eldorado’s Raymundo Lujan (sophomore)- Lujan is a star in the making, and scored the most points out of any male at Metros. He won the triple jump and 300m hurdles while earning second place finishes in the long jump and 110m hurdles. Eldorado has young star on their hands.
4. Rio Rancho’s Alejandro Casaus (junior)- Casaus helped the Rams sweep the 3200m runs, and posted a 9:52.92 time en route to a victory in the 2 mile. I am really excited to see Casaus and Organ Mountain’s Daxton Coombs compete at state. Both should put on a show.
5. Cleveland’s Giovanni Mollica (junior)/La Cueva’s Troy Dixon (junior)/La Cueva’s Cainen Montano (sophomore)- Guys, javelin at state is MUST WATCH! Here’s the reason why: any of these three guys can win on any given day. This week at Metros, Mollica won. Last week at the Richard Harper, Dixon won. The week before at the Storm Relays, Montano won. These guys are talented javelin throwers, and the only thing that would make it better is throwing Kingston Lee from Silver high school in there as well. Unfortunately, Silver is 4A.

Metro under-the-radar standouts (male)

1. West Mesa’s Marcos Perea-Ochoa (senior)- MPO took 3rd place in the long jump, and was a couple inches short of second place. Perea-Ochoa, who recently committed to ACU for football, has been apart of an impressive long jump talent pool in New Mexico. He should make some noise in the fianl stretch of the season.
2. Albuquerque Academy’s Elliot Hickey (senior)- Hickey was the Metro champ in the 800m, and helped Academy win the Metro title in the 4x800m relay. Also, he announced his commitment to Brown University. Not a bad week for Hickey.
3. Cleveland’s Collin Joyner (senior)- Joyner won the Metro title in the 110m hurdles, and did not compete in the 300m hurdles. Instead opting for the 400m run, an event in which he came in third place. Call me crazy but Joyner is my dark horse pick to score the most points out of any 5A school. He has the talent to do so.
4. La Cueva’s Tony Trujillo (senior)- Trujillo had a decisive victory in the high jump, and was every bit impressive. Love the high jump duo of Trujillo and Hunter Butler for the Bears.
5. St Pius X’s Silas Brown (sophomore)- Brown came in second place in both the 1600m and 3200m run. The young runner showed some great strides, and kept up with the household names. The St. Pius X distance runners have a crop of talented young guys. Keep an eye on the young Sartans.