Los Alamos High School Mountain Bike Team celebrates on the podium after the Hayfield Hustle. Athletes from left Zachary Bolin-Ryan, William Nettleton, Adis Bock, Calvin Grow, Seb Koglin, Phoebe Reid, Ian McLean, and Cullen McLean (front row). Courtesy photo
BY PAULA KNEPPER
Fourteen youth athletes, along with team coaches and parents from the Los Alamos HS and MS Mountain Bike Team, traveled to Gallup, NM, on Sept. 20 to compete in the New Mexico National Interscholastic Cycling Association’s (NM NICA) second race of the 2025 season, the Hayfield Hustle. Nearly 200 student-athletes from 18 teams across the state took part in the race.
Paul Work (Barranca Elementary School), Quanah Moseley, Evan Guerrero, and Brecken Hanson (7th grade Los Alamos Middle School), Phoebe Reid, and Zachary Bolin-Ryan (Seniors Los Alamos High School(LAHS)), Sebastian Koglin, Ian McLean, Calvin Grow, Adis Bock, and William Nettleton (Juniors LAHS), Elliot Work (Sophomore LAHS), and Cullen McLean, and Hans Gardner (Freshman LAHS) represented Los Alamos MS and HS teams at the Hayfield Hustle on Saturday.
Paul Work taking an early lead at the Hayfield Hustle. Courtesy photo
The Hayfield Hustle course, located at approximately 8,000 feet elevation, provided athletes with a vibrant fall backdrop and high-altitude racing conditions. Middle school racers rode up to two laps on a 3-mile course, while high school competitors tackled up to three laps of a 4.7-mile loop featuring rocky sections and flowing singletrack.
The team returned home with medals, leader jerseys, and strong memories—especially for those racing for the first time, including William Nettleton, Hans Gardner, and Paul Work, all of whom turned in impressive debut performances.
In the 6th grade division, Paul Work earned a podium finish with third place, showcasing the team’s developing talent. Quanah Moseley dominated the 7th grade boys’ race, finishing in first place with a commanding lead over the competition. Quanah was followed by his teammates, Brecken Hanson earning ninth place in a sprint finish and Evan Guerrero finishing in 11th place.
Phoebe Reid takes her place on the podium. Courtesy photo
Phoebe Reid took second place during her competition in the JV1 Girls division. Sebastian Koglin, racing in the most competitive Varsity Boys division, earned fourth place with consistent performance across three demanding laps on the challenging course. Ian McLean competed in the contentious JV1 division, finishing fourth place, followed by teammate Calvin Grow who earned a ninth-place finish. Elliot Work, Zachary Bolin-Ryan and Adis Bock competed in the JV2 division, finishing 11th, 13th and 15th place, respectively. Cullen McLean and Hans Gardner delivered outstanding performances in the JV3 division, finishing second and third place, respectively followed by William Nettleton earning 13th place. Hans Gardner is a first-time racer so finding a spot on the podium is an extraordinary achievement.
“All the racers put in 100% effort and their results reflect their hard work. I am very proud of the team this season.” said Head Coach Chris McLean after the race.
Next, the team will race on their home turf at Pajarito Ski Area on Oct. 5. Familiarity with the terrain, high-altitude training, and community support are expected to give the Los Alamos team an edge. The course features technical singletrack, steep climbs, and the demanding ~9,000-foot elevation of the Jemez Mountains. “This is a great chance for the community to come out and support our riders,” said McLean. “Racing at home is special—and having local fans cheering makes a huge difference.”
New athletes between 6th grade and 12th grade are welcome to join the Los Alamos HS and MS mountain bike team, and information is available at https://newmexicomtb.org.
Quanah Moseley sporting the leader jersey on the top of the podium. Featured right is race volunteer Tony Hinojosa who served as the announcer and emcee for awards. Courtesy photo.
Seb Koglin in a tight race coming into the finish area on Saturday. Courtesy photo