GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
After each meet the past three seasons, Mission Veterans cross country coach Bill Proctor has given a medal to whichever Patriot posted the best time. For each and every one of those races, that runner has been GJ Reyna.
But, with Reyna taking the ACT during Saturday’s Mission Veterans Memorial Patriots Invitational, Martin Garcia saw on opportunity to make the medal his.
He made the most of it, finishing in 9 minutes and 50 seconds to win the boys’ individual title.
“The medal was up for grabs, and he was inspired to get the medal,” Proctor said. “Martin has watched GJ get it the past three years, and he was motivated to run extra hard today. … I could see that it meant something to him.”
Garcia only narrowly edged out PSJA High’s Angen Montanez (9:51) and Mission Veterans’ Fabian Garcia (9:52).
Proctor said Garcia led for almost the entire race.
“He ran well,” Proctor said.
Mission Veterans (19 points) won the boys’ team title ahead of second-place PSJA High (44 points). Mission Veterans also won the team title on the girls’ side, although the margin was much slimmer. Mission Veterans had a score of 63, while PSJA High finished with a 64 and Edinburg Vela finished with a 65.
Adriana Cruz of Rio Grande City won the girls’ race with a time of 11:57. Cruz, a regional qualifier last season, has won both meets she’s entered this season. Cruz took over the race about a mile and a half in and won by about 10 meters.
“She’s very determined,” Rio Grande City coach Ricardo Altahis said. “She’s committed to the training. She’s easy to coach.”
LA JOYA PALMVIEW INVITATIONAL
With rainy conditions flooding many parts of the course, Saturday’s La Joya Palmview Invitational turned into a road race.
Despite the unexpected change, La Joya Palmview coach Claudia Bazan said her team was still able to use the race to size up the competition the Lobos will see in district.
Palmview’s Natali Gonzalez got off to a promising start, winning the race in 17:37 to help Pamview claim the girls’ team title.
A three-time regional qualifier, Gonzalez is expected to make the most of her senior year.
“She’s expected to perform well,” Bazan said. “We’re hoping for her to have a strong season this year.”
Mitchel Lara of La Joya Juarez-Lincoln won the boys’ race in 14:31 as the Huskies took the top three spots to help them claim the win as a team.
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RESULTS
Mission Veterans Memorial Patriots Invitational
Girls
Team results – 1. Mission Veterans Memorial, 63; 2. PSJA High, 64; 3. Edinburg Vela, 65; 4. Grulla, 90; 5. Rio Grande City, 116; 6. McAllen Rowe JV, 184.
Individual results – 1. Adriana Cruz, Rio Grande City, 11:57; 2. Mireya Zarazela, Grulla, 12:04; 3. Maria Gonzalez, Mission Veterans Memorial, 12:17; 4. Anna Sanchez, PSJA High, 12:18; 5. Ana Bautista, Rio Grande City, 12:20; 6. Valerie Gutierrez, Grulla, 12:23; 7. Fabby Carbajal, Mission Veterans Memorial, 12:49; 8. Joanna Alaniz, Edinburg Vela, 12:55; 9. Melanie Cruz, Edinburg Vela, 12:57; 10. Lupe Cruz, Mission Veterans Memorial, 12:58; 11. Anna Diaz, PSJA High, 13:06; 12. Brianna De La Rosa, Edinburg Vela, 13:11; 13. Marlett Trevino, Rio Grande City, 13:13; 14. Jozlyn Richie, PSJA High, 13:16; 15. Laly Villanueva, Mission Veterans Memorial, 13:18; 16. Paloma Flores, Edinburg Vela, 13:24; 17. Kenia Martinez, PSJA High, 13:25; 18. Andrea Quezada, PSJA High, 13:26; 19. Idiania Triado, McAllen Rowe, 13:30; 20. Alexis Mendoza, Edinburg Vela, 13:34.
Boys
Team results – 1. Mission Veterans Memorial, 19; 2. PSJA High, 44; 3. Rio Grande City, 95; Edinburg Vela JV, 145.
Individual results – 1. Martin Garcia, Mission Veterans Memorial, 9:50; 2. Angen Martinez, PSJA High, 9:51; 3. Fabian Garcia, Mission Veterans Memorial, 9:52; 4. Jesus Mata, Mission Veterans Memorial, 10:04; 5. Jose De Ochoa, Mission Veterans Memorial, 10:11; 6. Alvaro Mendez, Mission Veterans Memorial, 10:32; 7. Erik Chavez, Mission Veterans Memorial, 10:41; 8. Rudy Gomez, PSJA High, 10:42; 9. Isaiah Garcia, PSJA High, 10:59; 10. Jose Avila, PSJA High, 11:05; 11. Hiram Rivera, Rio Grande City, 11:10; 12. Yael Sanchez, Mission Veterans Memorial, 11:14; 13. Rene Lopez, Rio Grande City, 11:15; 14. Mathew Pena, Edinburg Vela, 11:18; 15. Cesar Cornado, PSJA High, 11:20; 16. Danny Diaz, PSJA High, 11:21; 17. Edgar Zapata, PSJA High, 11:23, 18. Rudy Vela, Mission Veterans Memorial, 11:24; 19. Alex Rocha, Mission Veterans Memorial, 11:25; 20. Rafael Cantu, PSJA High, 11:29.
La Joya Palmview Invitational
Girls
Team results – 1. La Joya Palmview, 30; 2. Mission High, 55; 3. McAllen High, 85; 4. McAllen Memorial, 88.
Individual results – 1. Natali Gonzalez, La Joya Palmview, 17:37; 2. Michelle Flores, Mission High, 17:44; 3. Briana Robles, La Joya Palmview, 17:58; 4. Naila Flores, La Joya Palmview, 18:04; 5. Alexandria Canchola, McAllen High, 18:52; 6. Samantha Perez, McAllen Memorial, 18:41; 7. Julissa Montoya, La Joya High, 18:44; 8. Mia Hinojosa, La Joya Palmview, 18:58; 9. Rosa Gonzalez, Mission High, 19:00.31; 10. Victoria Izaguirre, McAllen Memorial, 19:00.83; 11. Christina Alaniz, La Joya High, 19:02; 12. Natali Navarez, Mission High, 19:06; 13. Isha Guerra, McAllen High, 19:09; 14. Denise Esqueda, La Joya Palmview, 19:23; 15. Sandy Martinez, Mission High, 19:42; 16. Cristina Mancilla, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 19:54; 17. Valerie Flores, Mission High, 20:09; 18. Priscilla Flores, La Joya Palmview, 20:20; 19. Cariana Guerra, McAllen High, 20:26; 20. Beatriz Lopez, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 20:53.
Boys
Team results – 1. La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 24; 2. La Joya Palmview, 83; 3. Mission High, 89; 4. McAllen High, 120; 5. La Joya High, 137; 6. McAllen Rowe, 141; 7. McAllen Memorial, 146.
Individual results – 1. Mitchel Lara, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 14:31; 2. Martin Baez, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 14:41; 3. Florentino Castillo, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 14:45; 4. Victor Bocanegra, La Joya Palmview, 14:53; 5. Eli Rodriguez, La Joya Palmview, 15:06; 6. Zeke Ramirez, McAllen Memorial, 15:07; 7. Pablo Franco, McAllen Rowe, 15:12; 8. Fernie Osorio, Mission High, 15:14; 9. Luis Sanchez, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 15:17; 10. Jorge Santoyo, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 15:18; 11. Javier Coronado, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 15:20; 12. Gabriel Ruiz, Mission High, 15:21; 13. Joey Martinez, La Joya High, 15:22; 14. Beto Silva, McAllen High, 15:28; 15. Samuel Ortiz, La Joya Palmview, 15:33; 16. Johnathan Gutierrez, McAllen High, 15:34; 17. Cesar, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 15:35; 18. Ricardo Mendoza, La Joya High, 15:37; 19. Jorge Perez, Mission High, 15:40; 20. Brandon Ramirez, McAllen Rowe, 15:42