ZUNI BOYS FOCUSSED ON ANOTHER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Crossing the finish line first is the goal of any running event. Individually, the Zuni boys have come up short by less than a half a second in each of the last two state cross country championships, but as a team they sit on top of the Class AAA cross country community. “The last two years we’ve been so close to that state individual title,” said head coach Chris Carroll, who is starting his 18th year in charge. “Last year, AJ Lastyano missed the title by four-tenths of a second, and the year before Kameron Eustace missed the title by three-hundredths of a second. It’s crazy.”
Zuni is likely considered one of the favorites to repeat this cross-country season, but their veteran head coach doesn’t focus on the blue trophy. “If you start off day one saying, ‘Let’s go for a state championship’, that’s the wrong avenue to go down,” said Carroll. “We don’t even set goals until after the first meet.”
The Zuni boys won four of the last five AAA team state championships, but the Thunderbirds were not able to run in the 2020 COVID-shortened season. They did not compete in any fall sports that year. So, the Zuni boys have won each of the last four years they competed (2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022). “Like any program, it took time,” said Carroll. “We started really making gains around 2013, winning three in a row then, and we’re on another streak now.”
A big reason for their success is depth and the competition it brings. “I probably had 13 kids make varsity last year,” said Carroll. “Even up until the last meet of the season, people know their spots are on the line. The top nine will go onto district and top seven will go onto state. I always take those two extra kids to state because I want them to see what the state meet is about, so they have expectations when they are up at that next level.”
“Running has always been a big part of the culture,” explained Carroll. “We start at the elementary level and have elementary meets. I make sure my team is involved. It’s now the older generation giving back to the younger generation.”
Zuni has 22 overall boys cross country team state titles. With one more state title, they would be tied with Laguna Acoma for the most of any boys program. Coach Carroll says he’s aware of those numbers, but doesn’t focus on them. “You have to take each season one at a time,” he said. “Every season is a different chemistry. I don’t have team captains on my team, I don’t like labeling kids that way. We have leaders on the team.”
Among those Zuni High School runners returning from last year’s squad are Andrew Romancito (6th at state last year), Deron Lastyano (7th), Aaron Lahi (10th), and Kiohn Duran (18th).
