DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER
EDINBURG — There is a superstition amongst cross country athletes. During a warm-up jog on a course before a meet, you never cross the finish line.
It’s the black cat of the sport. Some believe in it, some don’t. Edinburg North runners do. But freshman Beth Ramos doesn’t.
Last month prior to the UTSA Invitational in San Antonio, Ramos’ teammates dared her to cross the finish line during a warm-up the day before the meet. Ramos accepted.
“Her teammates thought she was crazy,” Edinburg North girls cross country coach Karla Hernandez said. “But they also told me after, ‘Coach, that’s why she’s so good. Because she knows whatever is going to happen is up to her.’”
“Fearless” is the word Hernandez uses to describe her star runner. And it’s that moxie that has carried Ramos to Saturday’s UIL state meet at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock after Hernandez finished third at the Class 6A regionals last week.
“I was working for it, so in a way, I guess I expected to be here,” Ramos said. “I want to see what’s out there. I want to compete. I want to have fun, enjoy it, but also learn because I want to be even better next year.”
Ramos is so good that Hernandez, a former Edinburg High standout who also ran for UTPA from 2003-2007, puts Ramos in the same class as McAllen Memorial’s Tricia Terry and La Joya Juarez-Lincoln’s Emily Perez, some of the finest runners the Valley has known.
Ramos has been running since the seventh grade, but it was last year when she really took to the sport. This past summer, while competing for the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation (TAAF), she broke state records.
Hernandez recalls watching Ramos run in junior high and knowing she was seeing someone special.
“We knew right away she’d be a tough runner,” Hernandez said. “We knew right away she’d be a tough competitor. She’d lead everybody by 400, 800 meters.”
Ramos is cool and collected on the course, just as she is off it. She can’t tell you why she’s good or where she gets her impressive confidence. And nerves aren’t a foe. They are a friend.
“Nerves are good. They help me, especially at the start,” Ramos said. “It’s OK to get crazy before a race. One night we were going crazy, very energetic, and Coach Hernandez tells us to save it for the race. It’s true.
“It’s energy. Being nervous is good.”
Ramos even stands strong amidst adversity. Last weekend, Ramos’ idol, Edinburg High senior Alex Cruz, was disqualified for allegedly elbowing past Ramos late during the race.
Ramos still refers to Cruz as her competition, and Hernandez said it is because of Cruz that Ramos runs strong.
“We were toward the finish line,” Ramos said. “(Cruz) started running crooked, and she just pushed me. She elbowed me. By the time, we had already crossed the finish line. That was it. Nothing more than that.
“I look up to her. She’s the top runner and I want to be like her. She’s my competition. My goal was to run as good as her. I never thought she’d be disqualified. It just happened.”
Hernandez is hoping for at least a top 20 mark at state for Ramos. If Ramos accomplishes that, it means she started fast.
Her pacing is strong enough that when she starts well, which is almost always, Ramos keeps it up to where it is tough to pass her.
“She knows if she’s not going to kick it at the end, she has to kick it at the beginning and stay up there,” Hernandez said.
Ramos does not lack inspiration. She loves medals. So Hernandez has been showing off the state medal she won with the Bobcats in 2002, when they finished eighth as a team.
Ramos wouldn’t mind adding more to her trophy case.
“I just want to run. I just want to compete,” she said. “I want to see what I’ve gotten from all this training. This is where all the hard work is going to show.”
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Some Rio Grande Valley runners and teams to keep an eye on heading into Saturday’s UIL state cross country meet at Old Settlers Park Round Rock.
INDIVIDUALS
Emily Suarez, sr., Edinburg Economedes: Suarez finished fifth individually at Class 6A regionals. The multi-sport athlete posted a time of 18:37.8.
Krysta Martinez, jr., Edcouch-Elsa: Martinez finished second individually at Class 5A regionals. It is her third trip to state. She finished 12th last season.
Rene Guillen, sr., Sharyland High: Guillen finished fourth at Class 5A regionals. He won the District 31-5A championship two weeks ago.
Moises Campos, jr., Hidalgo: Campos finished third individually at Class 4A regionals. He finished 46th at state last season.
Valery Tobias, fr., Edinburg IDEA Quest: Tobias finished at 2nd at Class 3A regionals. She posted a time of 12:10.
TEAMS
Sharyland Pioneer: The girls team finished fourth at Class 5A regionals. The Lady Diamondbacks are paced by Isabel Mendoza and Lizette Chapa, who finished fourth and fifth, respectively, individually.
Mission Veterans Memorial: The boys team finished second at Class 5A regionals. The Patriots are led by GJ Reyna, who finished eighth individually. Fabian Garcia finished 11th individually.
Edinburg Vela: The boys team finished third at Class 5A regionals. The SaberCats are paced by Adam Herrera (No. 10 individually), Isaac Arevalo (No. 14) and Mark Trejo (No. 15).
Mercedes: The boys team finished fourth at Class 5A regionals. The Tigers are led by Jonathan Reyes, who finished ninth individually.
Progreso: The boys team finished fourth at Class 4A regionals. The Red Ants are led by Everardo Esparza, who finished 18th individually. Omar Anguiano and Jesus Salazar also finished in the top 30.