Clovis High cross country coach Mark Bussen knows his teams have their work cut out in today’s Class 5A state cross country competition at Rio Rancho. Still, if the boys can do what they did in last week’s District 4-5A meet at Hobbs — run in a group — and shave a little bit of time, the Wildcats could do some good. “If they can run in a bunch like they did at district, I’d like to think we’d be in the top seven or eight (out of 15),” Bussen said. “I think that can springboard them into some lofty goals for next year.” Both Clovis teams have only one senior, and both have been making progress late in the season. Junior Caitlin Waters, who missed last year’s state meet after finishing 11th as a freshman, has her sights set on a high finish this time around. “I want to go out fast and just do it,” she said. “I’m just going to try to go out and do my best.” Waters’ illness last year cost the Lady Wildcats a shot at a high team finish. Instead, they came in eighth. This year’s group has less experience, although juniors Callie Bunce and Kayla Merritt competed at state last fall. “Caitlin should be a top 10 individual; that’s certainly been the goal,” Bussen said. “Her intensity has picked up in the last two weeks. “If attitude and work ethic get it done, she’ll be in there.” Other runners for the girls are sophomore Anica Chairez, junior Becca Clark, senior Yividia Leyva and eighth-grader Kyra Bussen, the coach’s daughter. Bussen said Eldorado appears to be the girls team favorite. As for the Lady Cats, they’d like to finish in the top 10 and beat district rival Hobbs for a second consecutive week. The boys finished second in the district meet, beating out Carlsbad and falling just four points short of Hobbs. They did it by putting their top five times within 30 seconds of each other. “That really helped us,” said junior Justin Netcher, who was in the middle of the CHS bunch last week and seventh overall in 17 minutes, 17 seconds. “Hopefully, this week we can get it down to 15 or 20 seconds.” Netcher said his goal for the five-kilometer state race is a time of 16:40. “I believe I can do it,” he said. “I believe (fellow junior) Justin Kyle and I can push each other, whether we actually get it or not.” Sophomores Seth Zarate and Jaron Morgin have also been running well lately for the Cats, while sophomore Ben Reed has been running No. 5. Others competing this weekend are scheduled to be freshman Kenan Bussen, Mark’s son, and senior Bryan Davis. The boys team race is relatively wide open, Mark Bussen said, giving a slight nod to Gallup and Rio Rancho.