Tucumcari, San Jon both competing in cross country.

For once, Tucumcari won’t be the only team competing in cross country in Quay County.

San Jon has joined the fray this fall. Tucumcari and San Jon are scheduled to meet at the Amarillo ISD Invitational on Sept. 9, the Ruidoso Cross County Invitational on Sept. 30 and the City of Natural Lakes Invitational in Santa Rosa on Oct. 28.

Tucumcari coach Tim Clark, in his second year, said he has at least five boys and three girls participating in the sport.

He particularly excited about Alex Bueno De La O.

“He’s been running all summer, and I’m expecting great things from him,” Clark said. “His work ethic is outstanding.”

Clark said Bueno De La O typically runs from his home on Tucumcari’s east side to school and back each day. He said on his last 3.1-mile run, the junior logged a time of around 20 minutes. Clark said he wants to drop his time into the high teens, which dovetailed into his next goal.

“Our goal is to improve our times with every meet,” he said.

Other runners on the boys squad include junior Julian Flores, sophomore Paxton Smith, sophomore JT Turpin and two freshmen.

Clark also said eighth-grader Bryson Klinger might be promoted to the varsity later this season because of his “extraordinary work ethic.”

On the girls team are junior MiKayla Klinger, sophomore Mitzi Flores and sophomore Rachel Mardo.

“They may not be the fastest, but they’re giving all heart,” Clark said.

The Rattlers also are scheduled to compete at the NMMI Invitational in Roswell on Sept. 16 and the Pecos Valley Invitational in Roswell on Oct. 14.

Also on the Rattlers’ schedule is the annual Quay County on the Move event in Tucumcari on Oct. 7, though that is more of a workout day than a competition.

San Jon is scheduled to also compete at Amarillo College on Sept. 16 and at Cimarron on Oct. 7.

Bart Cadenhead, former San Jon volleyball coach, is leading its cross country squad.

Cadenhead stated in an email he had one varsity girl — freshman Rayna Sena — along with one junior-high boy and three junior-high girls.

For Tucumcari, its district meet will be at Socorro on Nov. 3. The Rattlers’ district includes Cobre, Hot Springs, New Mexico Military Institute, Ruidoso and Socorro.

San Jon’s large district includes Reserve, Quemado, Mountainair, Mescalero Apache, Loving, Jal, Hagerman, Gateway Christian, Elida, Dora, Cloudcroft, Capitan and Alamo Navajo.

Anyone who advances from district will compete at the state meet on Nov. 11 at Albuquerque Academy.