Rams boys XC ranked 11 in the nation

RIO RANCHO — The new rankings are out, and the Rio Rancho High School Rams are ranked 11th in the nation, knocking on the door of the Top 10.

After a huge win at the Desert Twilight Meet at Toka Stick Golf Club in Gilbert, Arizona, Sept. 27, the RRHS boys cross-country team is finding itself in the national spotlight. According to Dyestat.com, an independent website that tracks cross-country results and standings, the Rams are ranked No. 11 and climbing.

“Being ranked nationally is very exciting for our program and our boys on the team,” said head coach Philip Keller. “We know, though, that rankings are only rankings and that we have to prove it every time out on the course.”

There are thousands of high school cross-country programs in the United States. As of 2021, there were 124 in New Mexico alone, according to athletic.net.

Dyestat.com mentions Rio runner and reigning state champion Charlie Vause and his individual victory at Desert Twilight as a reason for the Rams’ recent rankings surge.

Vause competed in the 5,000 meters and finished in first with a time of 14:42.2, beating Rocco Culpepper of Niwot, Colorado, by nearly two seconds. Niwot edged out Rio Rancho for the team win.

“(The boys) are the ones who have put in the work to become great runners and deserve that recognition,” Keller said.

As of the Oct. 3 rankings, Rio Rancho is the only New Mexico team to crack the Top 30 in either the boys or girls categories.