BY MARK MOLINA | STAFF WRITER
Senior distance runners Russia Pyle and Cecilia Tellez have shared quite a bit of success during their careers with the Brownsville Hanna track and cross country programs.
They hope that success continues for them at the next level.
Pyle and Tellez will remain teammates after signing their national letters of intent to run cross country and track at Bethel University on Thursday afternoon at the Hanna High School auditorium.
Bethel is an NAIA school located in McKenzie, Tennessee.
With the campus far from home, the decision to sign there was both thrilling and nerve-racking, but there is a deep connection with the school as several Brownsville athletes currently calling Bethel home.
“I’m in disbelief in all honesty,” Pyle said. “I didn’t think I’d be able to run in college. I’m very excited about it, especially since my teammate (Tellez) is going to be my roommate. I’m also excited with all the other Brownsville people there, because they’ll help me get familiar with the town and how things work over there — I’m glad we won’t be alone over there.”
For Tellez, the decision wasn’t as easy to make, but like Pyle, the program having a strong Brownsville presence was a big help.
“It’s a big rush,” Tellez said. “I hesitated at first after being offered the contract. I thought it was too far away, but then I got excited about it. I’ve known Russia since my freshmen year and we’re pretty good friends and we know some of the team over there because a lot of them are from Rivera, who we’ve familiarized ourselves with over the last four years.”
Pyle and Tellez are just the latest to sign with Bethel this signing season, joining Rivera’s Andrea de la Rosa, who inked her letter of intent in early December.
Currently running for Bethel is Rivera’s Jennifer Lopez on the girl’s team.
On the boy’s team are Hanna’s Leonel Pena and Rivera’s Rueben Chapa, Anthony Garza, Emmanuel Guerrero, Johnathan Herrera and Christian Machuca, who all helped bring home a Southern States Athletic Conference title this past fall.
Hanna cross country and track coach Olaya Terran is excited for Pyle and Tellez and believes they can help lead Bethel to success much like the group of Brownsville boys did this past season.
“The boys from Brownsville have done well over there,” Terran said. “I’m glad they have the opportunity to run in college. These girls were a part of my most talented teams. They won district titles and they have done well this year. As far as what they ran this year, that’s how I know they’re going to be successful. They have run really well this year, so with more detailed training, they will get better.
“It’s sad to see them go and we have to start again with those freshmen and lower classmen.”
Pyle and Tellez were a part of a highly successful season for the Hanna girls cross country team, which won meets in San Benito, McAllen, Mercedes, Donna and placed second in the Meet of Champions before ultimately winning the District 32-6A title and qualifying for the Region IV-6A meet.
Pyle, who in addition to running cross country is hoping to compete in the 800- and 400-meter run at Bethel. Pyle is confident that her and her future teammates can be successful at the next level, but will be looking to just put her best foot forward during her freshmen year.
“I think both of us can bring a lot, along with Andrea (de la Rosa),” Pyle said. “I just want to do the best that we can. I want to improve more because I’ve improved from my freshmen year to my senior year, especially this year.”
Tellez will compete in cross country, along with the mile and 3200 during track season at Bethel, where she is looking to embrace a bigger workload.
“The workouts are going to be more intense,” she said. “I feel I can improve a whole lot more now. I really want to have better times and I’m sure that will happen with the amount of time we’re going to have to practice. I’m really hoping to even help out the team over there.”