Junior Carmen Dorsey-Spitz made New Mexico history with her victory today at the Brooks XC West Regional Championships at the Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, CA.
The newly crowned NMAA 4A State XC Champion ran 17:38 to win and qualify for the Brooks XC Championships that'll be held in San Diego next week. Her qualification through the West regionals is the first time a New Mexico girl has qualified in 15 years. In 2010, Julia Foster qualified and finished 34th place at the XC National Championships in San Diego.
She won't be the only New Mexico athlete at the Brooks XC Championships. Gianna Rahmer automatically qualified with a Fleet Feet Golden Ticket earlier this season. Next Saturday will be the first time two New Mexico girls line up at Balboa Park for the XC National Championships.
Until then Dorsey-Spitz told us she'll focus on hydrating and sleeping to prepare for her biggest race yet. Simple routines that clearly worked for her today.
From the gun, Dorsey-Spitz committed to controlling the race. She moved to the front early and never surrendered the lead, even as the West's best threw challenge after challenge her way.
Sadie Krueger, 2024 XC Nationals qualifer, applied pressure early on descending Switchbacks but Dorsey-Spitz stayed composed and pushed the pace again up Poop-Out Hill. Braelyn Combe, the new Mt. SAC XC Invite meet record holder, even tried to challenge her but Dorsey-Spitz
answered again, holding firm up Reservoir Hill.
Wire-to-wire, the New Mexico native dominated the race and proved that the past year hasn't been a fluke. Last season at the XC West Regional, she won the Sophomore Girls race in a time fast enough to qualify for Nationals, though she wasn't entered in the championship field. This fall, after a 16:47 state record and a dominant New Mexico campaign, she left no doubt.
Next Saturday, Dorsey-Spitz will lead a highly competitive West squad at the Brooks XC Championships Presented by Fleet Feet, alongside today's top 10 finishers and the region's seven Golden Ticket qualifiers.
Top 10 Qualifiers
| Place | Video | Athlete | Team | Mark | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Carmen Dorsey-Spitz | 11 | Unattached - NM | 17:38.70 | ||
| 2 |  Braelyn Combe | 12 | Santiago Corona (SS) | 17:51.20 | ||
| 3 |  Elliana Patterson | 11 | Christian (SD) | 17:53.20 | ||
| 4 | Avery Barton | 11 | Unattached - UT | 17:54.50 | ||
| 5 | Tatum Flach | 10 | Unattached - UT | 17:59.70 | ||
| 6 |  Sadie Krueger | 10 | Moanalua High School | 18:01.30 | ||
| 7 |  Carol Dye | 11 | San Juan Hills (SS) | 18:02.40 | ||
| 8 |  Giselle Fernandez | 12 | Riverbank (SJ) | 18:03.00 | ||
| 9 |  Farah Allen | 11 | Branson (NC) | 18:03.10 | ||
| 10 | Bridget Smit | 10 | Unattached - UT | 18:05.30 |