By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
EDINBURG — Even while winning district and competing at the regional and state level, the RGV Classic Cross Country Invitational has somehow eluded Victor Pedraza.
Whether it was a knee injury or mental blocks, the PSJA Southwest runner has struggled in recent years to place higher than second at the meet. So when the senior saw a clear path to the finish line Saturday, and other runners closing in on him, Pedraza knew he had to “kick it up a notch.”
That push down the stretch was enough to solidify his first-place finish at Monte Cristo Golf Course, avenging last season’s runner-up mark.
“Every year, I hear my coach whistle (near the finish line) and that means I have to go (fast) or else they’ll catch up,” said Pedraza, who clocked in at 15:49.5, beating out Edinburg North’s Tristan Pena (15.54.6). “So when I heard that whistle today, I just took off.”
After finishing 11th at state last season, Pedraza entered this year with a goal in mind to win between three and four meets. Last week, he missed his first opportunity by coming in second place at the Pioneer Diamondback Invitational.
So when he collected the top prize Saturday, Pedraza said it went a long way toward boosting his confidence once again.
“It was hard. It was tough,” Pedraza said. “But I always tell myself that the harder the battle, the sweeter victory. And it was very hard for me to keep the same pace (throughout the meet) and to kick it up in the end. So it was a sweet victory. I feel proud of myself.”
Last year, a knee injury slowed Pedraza. Before that, the length of the race was too much for him to overcome. On Saturday, he said, “I was able to overcome the fear of the little hills that were here, the sharp corners. I just believed in myself to stay in front.”
Edinburg North’s Beth Ramos (18:34.2) also overcame an injury to prevail in the varsity girls division, beating Edcouch-Elsa’s Krysta Martinez (18:39.2).
“It felt pretty good,” Ramos said. “When I first started, I was more nervous than usual because I haven’t done this. The last time I raced was six months ago. It felt good to get back on the line.
“I had some good competition and they really pushed me.”
Ramos, whose hip injury cut her track season short last year, said she felt tired in her first cross country meet Saturday.
“I felt winded, to be honest,” she said. “But in the end, it was worth it. I felt accomplished.
“But I know we have a long season ahead of us. I know I have to keep myself healthy so I don’t injure myself again.”
RGV Classic
At Monte Cristo Golf Course in Edinburg
Saturday’s Results
Boys
Team Results — 1, Edinburg North, 86; 2, PSJA Memorial, 109; 3, Mission Veterans, 121; 4, Sharyland Pioneer, 136; 5, Weslaco East, 168; 6, La Joya Palmview, 176; 7, Donna High, 183; 8, Rio Grande City, 238; 9, Edinburg High, 245; 10, PSJA High, 252; 11, Mission High, 260; 12, Edinburg High, 267; 13, Hidalgo High, 268; 14, Weslaco High, 284; 15, Edinburg Economedes, 349; 16, PSJA southwest, 373.
Individual Results — 1, Victor Pedraza, PSJA Southwest, 15:49.5; 2, Tristan Pena, Edinburg North, 15:54.6; 3, Cruz Gomez, PSJA Memorial, 16:03.7; 4, Jose Aleman, Sharyland Pioneer, 16:12.4; 5, Rolando Ramon, Edinburg High, 16:16.9; 6, Luis Ramirez, Weslaco East, 16:18.1; 7, Victor Bocanegra, La Joya Palmview, 16:18.7; 8, Aldo Nava, Edinburg North, 16:25.8; 9, Moises Campos, Hidalgo High, 16:27.2; 10, Joshua Doria, Edinburg North, 16:33.2; 11, Eliseo Rodriguez, La Joya Palmview, 16:34.9; 12, Jayven Cordova, Weslaco East, 16:37.4; 13, Jacinto Garza, Edinburg Vela, 16:39.7; 14, Julian Gomez, PSJA North, 16:44.9; 15, Jesus Mata, Mission Veterans, 16:46.6; 16, Fabian Garcia, Mission Veterans, 16:48.9; 17, Bryan Vela, Weslaco East, 16:49.8; 18, Ricardo Mendoza, La Joya High, 16:51.5; 19, Alejandro Castillo, Donna High, 16:52,6; 20, Brandon Garcia, Rio Grande City, 16:52.8.
Girls
Team Results — 1, Edinburg Economedes, 69; 2, La Joya Palmview, 70; 3, Edinburg North, 84; 4, Weslaco High, 104; 5, PSJA High, 163; 6, Edinburg Vela, 194; 7, Edinburg High, 202; 8, PSJA Memorial, 211; 9, Valley View, 231; 10, Rio Grande City, 264; 11, Weslaco East, 286; 12, Sharyland Pioneer, 295; 13, Mission High, 306; 14, Grulla, 360; 15, Donna High, 417.
Individual Results — 1, Beth Ramos, Edinburg North, 18:34.2; 2, Krysta Martinez, Edcouch-Elsa, 18:39.2; 3, Ana Bautisa, Rio Grande City, 18:39.3; 4, Briana Robles, La Joya Palmview, 18:41.9; 5, Daniela De La Cruz, Edinburg Economedes, 19:40.7; 6, Stephanie Sauceda, Weslaco High, 19:45.7; 7, Violet Torres, PSJA Memorial, 20:00.6; 8, Adriana Cruz, Edinburg High, 20:06.3; 9, Naila Flores, La Joya Palmview, 20:17.5; 10, Mayra Serrano, Edinburg Economedes, 20.21.3; 11, Mayra Bernando, Edinburg Economedes, 20:20.4; 12, Briana Rios, Edinburg North, 20:24.9; 13, Priscilla Flores, La Joya Palmview, 20:27.3; 14, Lynnda Lozano, Edinburg North, 20:27.9; 15, Teresa Castillo, Edinburg Economedes, 20:33.1; 16, Justeen Cantu, Weslaco East, 20:35.2; 17, Alexis Medina, Edinburg High 20:35.3; 18, Anna Sanchez, PSJA High, 20:39.4; 19, Bailey Villalon, La Joya Palmview, 20:46.2; 20, Kelly Agunaga, Edcouch-Elsa, 20:47.7.