9-22-2026 5:28am

Alamogordo Cross Country Girls Take Third, Boys Seventh at NMMI Invitational

Chris Edwards Editor

ROSWELL — The Alamogordo girls cross country team placed third and the boys finished seventh at Saturday's NMMI Invitational, hosted by New Mexico Military Institute.

The Lady Tigers were led by a strong one-two punch up front. Aurora Van Beusichem crossed the line third overall in 20:30.72, and teammate Alex Simmons was right behind her in fourth at 20:41.83, giving Alamogordo two top-five finishers in the girls varsity race.

Adalynn Chavez was the team's third runner, placing 21st in 21:57.99. Nizhoni Castillo (26th, 22:40.00) and Jocelyn Pittman (28th, 22:43.53) finished just three seconds apart to round out the scoring five, a tight pack that helped secure the podium team finish. Genesis Sayas (41st, 24:33.25) and Siena Cass (45th, 25:08.66) also ran for the Lady Tigers.

On the boys side, Zachary Swayzee led Alamogordo with a 19th-place finish in 17:45.29 in a varsity field of 72 finishers on the 5K course. Kellen Casebolt was next for the Tigers in 44th (19:46.09), followed by a closely bunched group of Nickolas Starkovich (48th, 20:25.24), Austin Amberson (50th, 20:28.11) and Calvin Khan (51st, 20:39.81). Chase Bailey placed 59th in 21:43.79. Hagerman's Fernando Zamora won the boys race in 15:42.

Alamogordo returns to action Friday at the Volcano Vista Meet in Albuquerque.

Full results are available at https://nm.milesplit.com/meets/771622-nmmi-invitational-2026/results

Girls Results

Aurora Van Beusichem, 3rd, 20:30.72

Alex Simmons, 4th, 20:41.83

Adalynn Chavez, 21st, 21:57.99

Nizhoni Castillo, 26th, 22:40.00

Jocelyn Pittman, 28th, 22:43.53

Genesis Sayas, 41st, 24:33.25

Siena Cass, 45th, 25:08.66

Boys Results

Zachary Swayzee, 19th, 17:45.29