HARLINGEN — It was déjà vu at the Harlingen Invitational cross country meet on Saturday at the Harlingen Sports Complex as Beth Ramos of Edinbug North and Orser Rodriguez of Harlingen High won individual titles for the second week in a row.
Last week at the Dog Pound Invitational at San Benito High School, Ramos and Rodriguez took home gold with times of 19:10 and 17.20, respectively.
On Saturday, the duo ruled the field again and with even better finishing times.
Ramos improved by nearly a full minute as she posted a time of 18:13.62. Meanwhile, Rodriguez bettered his time by over a minute and a half as he crossed the finish line with a time of 15:55.77.
“I’ve been working really hard and running well,” said Rodriguez, who is a senior this year. “My top goal is to run strong enough all season so that I can make it to state for the first time. I think I can do that.”
Rodriguez said that Satruday’s time was the best he’s ever run.
“However, I’d love to be able to run under a 15:30 this season. That’s my goal,” he said.
Thanks to Rodriguez’s first-place finish, the Cardinals came in fourth place in the boys team standings. In addition to Rodriguez, Mason Ford cracked the top 20 with an 18th-place finish.
However, it was Mercedes that ruled the day, coming in first with 48 points. Brownsville Rivera finished second with 60 points and Weslaco East rounded out the top three with 94 points.
Mercedes was paced by Victor Gonzales, who finished fifth with a time of 16:25.37. The Tigers also had runners finish in seventh place as well as 11th, 12th and 13th.
Meanwhile, San Benito’s Aron Garcia came in 20th place.
On the girls side, Edinbug Economedes took gold with 71 points, followed by Edinburg North with 88 poins and Brownsville Veterans with 136.
Economedes was led by Emily Suarez, who came in third with a time of 18:43.59, and teammate Ana Ochoa, who finished fourth with a time of 20:08.69.
Edinburg North was led by Ramos as well as Angela Nuno, who came in 13th, and Sydney Galloso, who came in 15th.
Edcouch-Elsa also had a solid showing, finishing fourth and paced by Krysta Martinez, who came in second with a time of 18:42.55.
Harlingen Invitational results
Saturday at Harlingen Sports Complex
Boys team results
1. Mercedes 48, Brownsville Rivera 60, Weslaco East 94, Harlingen High 104, Brownsville Hanna 157, San Benito 183
Boys individual results
1. Orser Rodriguez, Harlingen, 15:55.77; 2. Albert Herrera, Weslaco East, 16:03.84; 3. Christian Machura, Rivera, 16:04.43; 4. Anthony Garza, Rivera, 16:25.15; 5. Victor Gonzales, Mercedes, 16:25.37; 6. Jonathan Herrera, Rivera, 16:33.06; 7. Matthew Peynado, Mercedes, 16:37.59; 8. David DeHoyos, Edcouch-Elsa, 16:41.84; 9. Rene Guillen, Sharyland, 16:48.91; 10. Manny Guerrero, Rivera, 16:50.97; 11. Manuel Gonzales, Mercedes, 16:52.53; 12. Jonathan Reyes, Mercedes, 16:55.50; 13. Domic Cavazos, Mercedes, 16:56.66; 14. Brian Vela, Weslaco East, 16:56.90; 15. Aron Adame, San Benito, 17:09.09; 16. Rey Alvear, Hanna, 17:12.78; 17. Jayven Cordova, Weslaco East, 17:18.31; 18. Mason Ford, Harlingen, Harlingen, 17:20.03; 19. Brandon Ramirez, Sharyland, 17:20.34; 20. Aran Garcia, San Benito, 17:23.22
Girls team results
1. Edinburg Economedes 71, 2. Edinburg North, 88, 3. Brownsville Veterans 136, 4. Edcouch-Elsa 140, 5. Edinburg Vela 152, 6. Valley View 172
Girls individual results
1. Beth Ramos, Edinburg North, 18:13.62; 2. Krysta Martinez, E-E, 18:42.55; 3. Emily Suarez, Economedes, 18:43.59; 4. Ana Ochoa, Economedes, 20:08.69; 5. Naomi Lucia, Hanna, 20:14.55; 6. Mariana Sanchez, Hanna, 20:29.69; 7. Chelsea Rodriguez, Harlingen, 20:55.57; 8. Natalia DeLangel, Valley View, 21:17.41; 9. Mya Price, Harlingen South, 21:20.87; 10. Kelly Aguinaga, E-E, 21;21.19; 11. Leslie Alvarado, E-E, 21:29.22; 12. Monica Yanez, Valley View, 21:30.22; 13. Angela Nuno, Edinburg North, 21:31.41; 14. Crystal Lopez, Harlingen, 21:34.09; 15. Sydney Galloso, Edinburg North, 21:36.30; 16. Jordan Rudd, Bro. Veterans, 21:39.94; 18. Joanna Alanis, Edinburg Vela, 21:44.19; 19. Mia Villarreal, Bro. Veterans, 21:44.79; 20. Mayra Serrano, Economedes, 21:46.12