By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
Intermittent rain wasn’t enough to prevent Rivera’s Anthony Garza and McAllen Rowe’s Veronica Dougherty from capturing individual varsity titles at Saturday’s Brownsville ISD cross country meet at Brownsville Sports Park.
The annual meet had been moved from the BISD Encampment to BSP’s soccer complex because rain during the past week left some areas of the Encampment course under water.
The rain continued to fall from time to time Saturday at BSP, but, for the most part, it didn’t seem to be too much of a hindrance for the runners as they ran 3.1 miles in the varsity boys and girls races.
Garza cruised to victory in 17 minutes, 40.31 seconds with teammate Cristian Machuca (17:40.78) right on his heels, giving Rivera a one-two finish in the boys varsity race.
“It’s feels beautiful (to win),” said Garza, a junior. “I’ve been working hard for it. Now that I have it, I have to work even harder for it (to win again).
“(Although) it was a little bit slow, I was able to stay with the lead, so we were good,” Garza added. “I took the lead about the middle of the race. I like to stay up front. This was my first win (at a meet this season), so it feels pretty good.”
Rounding out the top five for the boys were Mercedes’ Dominic Cavazos in third (18:08.25), Mercedes’ Jonathan Reyes in fourth (18:11.00) and Donna North’s Joshua Perez in fifth (18:19.18).
Like Garza, Dougherty, a freshman, enjoyed her first win at a varsity meet this season.
“My race went good,” said Dougherty, who took first in 25:07.84, comfortably ahead of second-place finisher Mariana Sanchez of Hanna (25:19.38). “I just kept my pace and stuck it out. I was in the lead and broke away a little bit at the end. It feels good (to win). It’s because of hard work. Hopefully it will help me do well at the meets coming up.”
Besides Dougherty and Sanchez, the top five finishers for the girls also included Naomi Lucio of Hanna in third (25:33.88), Paola Villarreal of Brownsville Veterans Memorial in fourth (26:15.44) and Monie Izaguirre of Mercedes in fifth (26:16.72).
Hanna’s girls successfully defended their team title at the meet with 64 points. Brownsville Veterans was second with 74, and Rowe was third with 88. Los Fresnos (138) and Mercedes (170) completed the top five teams for the girls.
Other girls finishing in the top 20 for Hanna were Audren Pineda in 10th and Stephania Acuñas in 19th.
Mercedes won the boys team championship with 43 points, and Rivera was second with 70. Donna North was third with 78 and Brownsville Veterans was fourth with 105. San Benito was fifth with 155.
Mercedes’ boys had five runners finish in the top 20. In addition to Cavazos and Reyes coming in third and fourth, respectively, other Tigers helping the cause were Mathew Peynado in sixth, Manuel Gonzalez in 13th and Victor Ambundis-Gonzalez in 17th.
BSP will be the site of the District 32-6A meet Oct. 17.
Brownsville ISD Cross Country Meet
At Brownsville Sports Park
Saturday’s Results
Boys Varsity Division (3.1 miles)
Team Standings (top 5)
1. Mercedes, 43 points; 2. Brownsville Rivera, 70; 3. Donna North, 78; 4. Brownsville Veterans, 105; 5. San Benito, 155.
Individual Results (top 20)
1. Anthony Garza, Rivera, 17:40.31; 2. Cristian Machuca, Rivera, 17:40.78; 3. Dominic Cavazos, Mercedes, 18:08.25; 4. Jonathan Reyes, Mercedes, 18:11.00; 5. Joshua Perez, Donna North, 18:19.18; 6. Mathew Peynado, Mercedes, 18:26.38; 7. Manny Guerrero, Rivera, 18:28.00; 8. Aron Adame, San Benito, 18:28.87; 9. Ricardo Torres, Los Fresnos, 18:39.69; 10. Ricky Arellano, Donna North, 18:42.53; 11. Julio Chavez, Brownsville Porter, 18:43.46; 12. Aron Garcia, San Benito, 18:44.46; 13. Manuel Gonzalez, Mercedes, 18:47.06; 14. Adrel Aparicio, Harlingen South, 18:48.41; 15. Beto Aguillon, Brownsville Veterans, 18:56.15; 16. David Martinez, Hanna, 18:57.21; 17. Victor Ambundis-Gonzalez, Mercedes, 18:58.53; 19. Leo Vasquez, Donna North, 19:00.09; 20. Jesus Gomez, Brownsville Veterans, 19:04.72.
Girls Varsity Division (3.1 miles)
Team Results (top 5)
1. Brownsville Hanna, 61 points; 2. Brownsville Veterans Memorial, 74; 3. McAllen Rowe, 88; 4. Los Fresnos, 138; 5. Mercedes, 170
Individual Results (top 20)
1. Veronica Dougherty, McAllen Rowe, 25:07.84; 2. Mariana Sanchez, Hanna, 25:19.38; 3. Naomi Lucio, Hanna, 25:33.88; 4. Paola Villarreal, Brownsville Veterans, 26:15.44; 5. Monie Izaguirre, Mercedes, 26:16.72; 6. Mya Price, Harlingen South, 26:34.06; 7. Courtney Macias, Rowe, 26:35.69; 8. Crystal Lopez, Harlingen High, 26:37.50; 9. Sabrina Gracia, IDEA Frontier, 26:44.66; 10. Audren Pineda, Hanna, 26:53.41; 11. Mia Villarreal, Brownsville Veterans, 26:54.40; 12. Leslie Estrella, Brownsville Lopez, 26:54.58; 13. Valeria Tellez, Los Fresnos, 27:01.18; 14. Estefana Mora, Donna North, 27:07.78; 15. Hope Ngo, Brownsville Pace, 27:13.88; 16.Reeanna Zamfir, Brownsville Veterans, 27:14.72; 17. Rachel Ysaguirre, Brownsville Veterans, 27:17.84; 18. Daisy Acuna, Donna North, 27:20.41; 19. Stephania Acunas, Hanna, 27:21.69; 20. McKayla Guerra, San Benito, 27:22.68.