The 5-foot-11, 142-pound senior won the NMAA Class 4A state meet this past season with a time of 15:18.8, breaking the tape 27.5 seconds ahead of his next-closest competitor and leading the Chargers to the team championship. Ponte won six of seven races during the season, including triumphs at the New Mexico Lobo Invitational and the Academy Extravaganza. He finished the season unbeaten against New Mexico challengers.
Ponte has maintained a weighted 4.21 GPA in the classroom. He will attend Harvard University this fall, where he will run for the cross country and track teams.
A member of the school’s chapter of the Health Occupations Students of America, Ponte has volunteered locally at various elementary schools by teaching and creating science activities in addition to supporting animal care initiatives at Watermelon Ranch, a no-kill shelter. He has also donated his time fundraising for the UNM Children’s Hospital.
