Prep Notes: Area runners compete in Arizona ahead of this weekend's Metro Championships

Gianna Rahmer of Eldorado might ordinarily have added an extra local meet to her 2025 schedule, but she spent last weekend at the super elite Desert Twilight 2025 in Mesa, Arizona.

The two-time defending Class 5A state champion, now a sophomore for the Eagles, placed second in the most elite division of the meet, the 5,000-meter Sweepstakes division.

Rahmer posted a time of 17 minutes, 5.1 seconds. The winner was Addy Ritzenhein out of Niwot High in Colorado. Her time was 17:00.7.

Pippa Barrett, a senior from Santa Fe Prep, placed 13th in that same race.

Billy Romero of Taos, who recently captured first place in the elite division of the Rio Rancho Jamboree, was 10th in the boys Sweepstakes division at Desert Twilight. Elijah England of Navajo Prep was 12th, and Judah Daffron from Taos finished 15th.

In the Championship-division race, Mariah Galbraith of Rio Rancho was the meet champion (18:14.2). Kaden Lapahie, of Shiprock, was the top New Mexican, in fourth place.

The Albuquerque Metro Championships are coming up Saturday, at Nusenda Community Stadium.

The girls varsity race begins at 10 a.m., followed by the boys at 10:35.

In addition to the 13 programs inside Albuquerque Public Schools, seven other schools — Cleveland, Rio Rancho, St. Pius, Hope Christian, Sandia Prep, Albuquerque Academy and Oak Grove Classical Academy — are scheduled to compete.

MIKE BROWN FUNDRAISER: The fourth annual Coach Mike “Papa” Brown MSA Scholarship fundraiser at Albuquerque’s Top Golf is scheduled from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9.

There will be a silent auction, live music and food and drinks at the fundraiser, and monies will go toward providing scholarships for a small handful of APS senior student-athletes next year.

The family’s foundation, named for the late Hall of Fame Albuquerque Academy boys basketball coach and teacher, has raised $60,000 in scholarship money to date.

Individual tickets are $100. For information, visit papabrownscholarship.wixsite.com.