Alamogordo, NM: This was a little more exciting, a little more nerve-wracking and ultimately a little more sweeter.

The Cloudcroft Lady Bears track and field team won its second consecutive Class 2A state track and field title Saturday at the University of New Mexico Track and Field Complex.

"This one was a lot more nerve -wracking," head coach Wendell Lane said. "It seems a lot more meaningful because it was harder to win this one. It was all up to the girls to do it, and they did it."

Heading into the final event of the day, the 1,600-meter relay, Cloudcroft held a 60-54 lead over Texico. The Lady Wolverines were seeded two spots ahead of the Lady Bears, and Lane figured his team couldn't finish more than one place behind Texico and repeat.

"We did a lot of calculating and figuring and breath-holding going into the last few events," Lane said. "Both of us were in the mile relay ... we needed to finish close to them or beat them. We beat them ... and that situation took care of itself."

The Lady Bears finished third and sped past the Lady Wolverines, who finished fifth. Cloudcroft won by 10 points, 66-56.

In the relay, senior Estrella Martinez took the baton from senior Fatima Booky and overtook her Texico counterpart,

then juniors Tamera Richline and Jennifer Mack kept their pace up to keep Cloudcroft ahead.

As Mack crossed the finish line, Booky said the entire relay team as well as the rest of the Lady Bears were awash in emotion.

"I was in the middle of crying because it was my last race I'll ever run and because I was in pain," Booky said with a laugh. "I am so proud of myself and my teammates ... it's a great way to go out. With a bang.

"Two state championships in a row is everything I have ever worked for in my life and everything this team has been working for forever. I am so proud and excited for all of us."

Booky, Richline and Mack teamed with senior Brittney Mitchell to finish second in the 400 and 800 relays; Cloudcroft also got second-day victories from senior Courtney Schultz in the 800 and 3,200 and a first-place finish from the medley relay team of Booky, Richline, Mack and senior Camille Schultz.

Courtney Schultz's first-place finishes in the 800, 1,600 (Friday) and 3,200 gave the senior the distance triple crown for the second consecutive year. Camille Schultz finished second in the 3,200; the 12 points from the soon-to-be Oklahoma State University Cowgirls vaulted Cloudcroft into first place overall.

"I sure am going to miss those girls," Lane said, chuckling. "It's a big luxury to have had them the last two seasons. We came to state this year counting on 41 points just from our distance runs and relays and the twins are basically our distance runners."

The Bears, meanwhile, finished third overall with 44.5 points and bring home the Green Trophy. Cloudcroft's boys got a first-place finish from Ben Faust in the javelin (164 feet, 11 inches), a third-place finish from Chris Simpson in the 100 and a sixth-place finish from Steven Brito in the shot put.

In addition, senior Josh Wiklund finished first in the 800 (2 minutes, 3.80 seconds), tied for second in the long jump (19-11.25) and helped the medley relay team finish second. Add those to his state-record triple jump (44-6.; first place) from Friday, and Wiklund earned enough points (20.5) to be named the 2A state Male High-Point winner.

"It was crazy, man," Wiklund said. "I was surprised when I got the award."

He won the 800 by waiting a lap before "speeding up," then nearly injured himself trying to stay ahead in the medley relay, which Cloudcroft finished second by less than a tenth of a second.

"I didn't want to run a 57 or anything the first lap and overextend myself (in the 800)," Wiklund said. "I felt good, so I sped up. I guess I beat those guys by quite a bit, that's what everyone was telling me.

"I got the baton and I was probably 30 or 40 meters behind (in the medley), and had to make up ground quick. I caught up at the first lap and passed them all on the first curve of the second lap. I ... tried to finish with a sprint as much as I could. My legs hurt so bad, they've never hurt like that before."