DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER
EDINBURG — Albert Herrera was determined to avoid a repeat of last year’s finish at the district cross country meet.
Coming into the last 100 meters, the Weslaco East senior, then a junior, was in the lead. But he lost it almost as easy as he got it, and saw a precious opportunity slip away.
“I got kicked down last year and I didn’t want that to happen,” Herrera said. “I knew I’d have to set the pace and that’s what I did.”
Herrera certainly made up for last year, and then some, winning the varsity boys division at Saturday’s District 31-6A meet at Ebony Golf Course in Edinburg. The top 10 individuals and top three teams qualify for regionals at UTSA on Nov. 1.
Herrera won with a time of 16:17.7. Edinburg North’s Tristan Peña (16:30.8) finished second, followed by Weslaco East’s Luis Ramirez (16:42.9), Edinburg High’s Rolando Ramon (16:45.2) and Herrera’s teammate Jayven Cordova (16:48.5).
Edinburg North’s Leonel Rivas, PSJA North’s Jerrell Ledesma, Edinburg North’s Michael Garcia, Weslaco East’s Bryan Vela and Edinburg North’s Jose Quintanilla rounded out the top 10.
The win was Herrera’s first of the season. He came in second at last month’s Meet of Champs.
Weslaco East, looking to qualify for state for the third consecutive year, was first as a team with 31 points, followed by Edinburg North (37) and PSJA Memorial (97). PSJA North (115) and Edinburg High (125) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
All but two Wildcats are underclassmen.
“We lost a couple of key runners last year,” Herrera said. “Coming into this season, we looked sluggish. But coming into these last few meets, we started looking better. We’re pretty tight as a team and we just have to keep it like that.”
Edinburg High senior Alex Cruz defended her district title, winning the varsity girls division authoritatively.
Cruz cruised to a first-place finish with a time of 18:15.3. Edinburg North’s Beth Ramos (18:32.9) finished second, followed by Edinburg Economedes’ Emily Suarez (19:23.4), Edinburg Economedes’ Ana Ochoa (19:52.1) and Edinburg High’s Vianney Sanchez (20:24.7).
“I had to bump up my mileage, bump up the quantity and the intensity to get this one,” Cruz said. “I feel stronger, better. It’s good to know I did better on this course than last year, and I just wanted to go out there, defend my title and leave my mark.”
Weslaco High’s Gloria Martinez, Edinburg North’s Yvette Yracheta, PSJA Memorial’s Violet Torres, Weslaco High’s Stephanie Sauceda and Edinburg Economedes’ Allison Marroquin finished in the top 10.
Cruz is shooting for another trip to state, and a top-five finish there. But even more than that, she wants to run collegiately, and it’s that that is pushing her this year.
“I want people to see that a Valley girl can actually qualify to state again,” she said. “It’s not just about a district title. It’s about state, it’s about going to a school and becoming a collegiate athlete. I’m stronger and I’m more confident in myself.”
Edinburg Economedes won first place as a team with 46 points, followed by Edinburg North (55) and PSJA Memorial (78). Edinburg High, heartbreakingly, barely missed the cut for regionals, finishing with 79 points. Weslaco High, last year’s district winner, finished fifth with 101 points.
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District 31-6A Cross Country Meet
At Ebony Golf Course
Saturday’s Results
Boys
Team Results — 1. Weslaco East, 31 points; 2. Edinburg North, 37 points; 3. PSJA Memorial, 97 points; 4. PSJA North, 115 points; 5. Edinburg High, 125 points; 6. Edinburg Economedes, 129 points; Weslaco High, 183 points.
Individual Results — 1. Albert Herrera, Weslaco East, 16:17.7; 2. Tristan Pena, Edinburg North, 16:30.8; 3. Luis Ramirez, Weslaco East, 16:42.9; 4. Rolando Ramon, Edinburg High, 16:45.2; 5. Jayven Cordova, Weslaco East, 16:48.5; 6. Leonel Rivas, Edinburg North, 16:54.6; 7. Jerrell Ledesma, PSJA North, 17:00.7; 8. Michael Garcia, Edinburg North, 17:01.5; 9. Bryan Vela, Weslaco East, 17:13.3; 10. Jose Quintanilla, Edinburg North, 17:21.1; 11. Joshua Doria, Edinburg North, 17:33.7; 12. Angel Quirino, PSJA Memorial, 17:37.4; 13. Jose Coronado, Weslaco East, 17:39.4; 14. Victor Munoz, PSJA Memorial, 17:42.4; 15. Juan Ortiz, Weslaco East, 17:44.1; 16. Matthew Perez, Edinburg High, 17:49.8; 17. Mario Ferrer, Edinburg Economedes, 17:51.2; 18. Aldo Nava, Edinburg North, 17:53.2; 19. Brandon Sauceda, PSJA Memorial, 17:58.4; 20. Emilio Morado, Edinburg Economedes, 18:03.8.
Girls
Team Results — 1. Edinburg Economedes, 46 points; 2. Edinburg North, 55 points; 3. PSJA Memorial, 78 points; 4. Edinburg High, 79 points; 5. Weslaco High, 101 points; 6. PSJA North, 136 points.
Individual Results — 1. Alex Cruz, Edinburg High, 18:15.3; 2. Beth Ramos, Edinburg North, 18:32.9; 3. Emily Suarez, Edinburg Economedes, 19:23.4; 4. Ana Ochoa, Edinburg Economedes, 19:52.1; 5. Vianney Sanchez, Edinburg High, 20:24.7; 6. Gloria Martinez, Weslaco High, 20:25.1; 7. Yvette Yracheta, Edinburg North, 20:29.3; 8. Violet Torres, PSJA Memorial, 20:33.3; 9. Stephanie Sauceda, Weslaco High, 20:34.1; 10. Allison Marroquin, Edinburg Economedes, 20:36.1; 11. Stephanie Ovalle, PSJA Memorial, 20:46.6; 12. Pam Hernandez, Edinburg North, 20:41.8; 13. Kasandra Rodriguez, PSJA Memorial, 20:50.2; 14. Mayra Serrano, Edinburg Economedes, 20:56.0; 15. Daniela De La Cruz, Edinburg Economedes, 20:57.8; 16. Lynnda Lozano, Edinburg North, 21:06.2; 17. Alyssa De Leon, Weslaco High, 21:15.2; 18. Angela Nuno, Edinburg North, 21:22.6; 19. Stephanie Martinez, PSJA Memorial, 21:24.2; 20. Teresa Garcia, Edinburg Economedes, 21:25.0