The Pack Leader: Carmen Dorsey-Spitz and a New Ceiling for New Mexico Running

Carmen Dorsey-Spitz spent her freshman year just trying to keep up. She wasn’t qualifying for state meets, let alone national finals. She was a face in the pack, a runner among runners in the high-altitude terrain of central New Mexico.

Now, just two years later, everything has changed: the pack is chasing her. As a sophomore she finished second at the state cross country meet. In November, Dorsey-Spitz became New Mexico’s fastest girl 5K runner when she broke the course record at Albuquerque Academy course when she ran a 16:57.

In this two-year span, the Estancia Valley Classical Academy/Moriarty High School junior has redefined New Mexico distance running. Once a regional hopeful, she is now a national powerhouse. During a single cross-country season, Dorsey-Spitz hasn’t just broken tape; she’s shattered records and expectations, culminating in a historic Brooks West Regional victory in Walnut, California, this past December.

“It felt almost surreal,” Dorsey-Spitz said of her transition to elite status. “I know I put in the work, but as big as the progression was—it was actually crazy to me.”

The “Work” and the Coach’s View

The “work” Dorsey-Spitz refers to isn’t a secret formula of high-intensity sprints. Instead, she credits a philosophy of patience and “easy mileage.” Many young athletes burn out by overtraining in the thin mountain air. Dorsey-Spitz and her coaches focused on building a massive aerobic base. Consistent, slow miles allows her body to adapt before she touches a speed workout.

Janice Gustafson, who has coached Carmen since her freshman year at Moriarty, has watched this evolution firsthand.

“I’ve been blessed enough to have Carmen since she was a freshman,” Coach Gustafson says. “It’s been really exciting getting to see her develop as a person and as a runner. She’s always been extremely coachable. She seeks to learn and improve, and she utilizes resources beyond just me. She’s also really in tune with her body—understanding how to make sure not to overtrain while also giving max effort.”

The results of that patience arrived like a landslide. In November 2025, she claimed the NMAA Class 4A State Cross Country title. It wasn’t just a win; it was the fastest time of the entire state meet across all classifications.

A Legacy in the Making

For Dorsey-Spitz, the drive to compete is practically written into her DNA. Her father, Dr. Ryan Dorsey-Spitz, was a national championship boxing runner-up and a former runner in Colorado. While her mother, Julie, might have been relieved when Ryan hung up the gloves, the competitive fire of the ring migrated to the trails.

“He’s more well-known for his boxing,” Carmen said. “But he ran up in Colorado, so you have that wild competition culture. He’s been really involved in my training.”

She dedicated her historic 2025 season to her late uncle, David, a personal motivation that fueled her through the grueling final miles. Her work ethic, however, extends beyond the course. A student at Estancia Valley Classical Academy, she competes for Moriarty because her charter school lacks athletic programs. Between a rigorous academic schedule and workouts, she also works weekends behind the counter at Lantern Ridge, a cafe in Sandia Park.

“I get up early to get my workout in, and then I go to work because I need to save up for college somehow,” she said. “I come from a very hardworking family, and I don’t want to disappoint them.”

The Mental Game: Mountains vs. Flats

While she has become the “pack leader,” Dorsey-Spitz remains her own toughest critic. She admits that flat, fast courses—where most runners expect to excel—actually pose a greater mental hurdle for her than the steep, punishing hills of the Manzano Mountains.

“With hills, I know I have to pace myself,” she explained. “On flat courses, my brain tells me I can start that first mile harder, but then I burn myself out.”

Coach Gustafson echoes this observation, noting that Carmen’s true spirit shines when the terrain gets tough. “We run one course at East Mountain High School that is more of a trail run—it’s hard,” Gustafson says. “I ask the kids if they want to go back, and Carmen is like, ‘Absolutely, I love it.’ She attacks the hills. I always yell at them to ‘kill the hill,’ and she does—hardcore.”

On the flat courses, Gustafson notes the challenge is different: “Carmen hasn’t had a lot of competition in every course we go to. She has to have that mental game of keeping her pace and running against herself because she doesn’t have people in front of her to chase.”

A Culture of Character

Despite being the fastest 5K runner in the state, those around her say her character outshines her times. Gustafson describes a runner who is never arrogant, often finishing her own elite races only to immediately begin cheering for her teammates and her toughest competitors.

“She embodies the culture of cross country,” says Gustafson. “She’ll finish in an incredible time and then go run alongside middle schoolers who are struggling to finish a mile, just to encourage them. I watch them get so excited when someone like Carmen cheers for them. Every coach dreams of having an athlete like her.”

Looking Toward the Horizon

As she heads into her senior year in 2026, the expectations are soaring. Under the guidance of coach Gustafson and newly joined coach Lydia Otero, Dorsey-Spitz is focused on the “boring” parts of greatness: sleep, weights, and joy.

The Olympics, once a distant TV dream, are now a target. “Going to Nationals for the first time puts it in my brain,” Carmen said. “In college, I want to see if I’m able to qualify for the Olympics. That would be the ultimate achievement.”

Since establishing herself as the top girls’ cross-country runner in New Mexico, coach Gustafson has received a steady stream of recruiters, who contact her and relay their messages to Carmen and her family.

Whether she eventually becomes a doctor or a dentist—occupations she is currently considering—Carmen Dorsey-Spitz has already proven she has the endurance for the long haul. From the quiet morning miles in on the courses she chooses to train on to the bright lights of nationally televised races, she is no longer just a participant. She is the one setting the pace.