LA FERIA — Mariana Villanueva and the La Feria Lions are District 32-4A cross country champions for the fourth year in a row.
Villanueva finished the 32-4A district championship race first overall with a time of 12 minutes, 20.9 seconds.
The race was held in La Feria Monday morning.
Next stop for Villanueva and the Lions is the regional cross country race held in Corpus Christi on Oct. 28.
“The excitement is the everyday process of the girls sacrificing for the team,” said head coach Graciela Campos. “We won by four points, but we’ll take it.”
Also punching their ticket to the regional cross country meet are Rio Grande City La Gurlla with (51 points) and Zapata placed third with (67 points). La Feria finished the race with at total score of (47 points.)
Yesterday’s win marked the second back-to-back District 32-4A championship for the girls La Feria Lions cross country team dating back to the 2016 season.
“This isn’t Friday night lights,” Campos said, comparing the sport to Valley football popularity. “It’s Saturday morning glory.”
BOYS RACE
The Progreso Red Ants cross country team zipped their way to another first place finish at the La Feria District Championship race.
Their win in La Feria on Monday marked their fourth first place finish in their last five races.
And for the fourth year in a row the Red Ants are the crowned District 32-4A champions.
The Red finished the meet with a team total score of (18 points), La Feria trailed with (51 points) and Zapata finished with (78 points).
Progreso claimed seven of the top ten spots in the race. Their fastest runner, Jonathan Vega led the pack at the finish line with a time of 16 minutes, and 18.5 seconds.
“Hopefully we can have a good showing at regional meet,” Progreso head coach Ivan Gonzalez said.
Also participating in the District race for the boys and girls competition were Hidalgo Early College, Port Isabel, Raymondville and Rio Hondo.
The top three teams and the top ten runners in the boys and girls divisions advance to the regional meet.
District 32-4A Cross Country Championship race results
Girls teams results:
1. La Feria 47; 2. Rio Grande City La Grulla 51; 3. Zapata 67
Girls top ten runners:
1. Marina Villanueva, La Feria,12:20.9; 2. Odette Fernandez, Rio Grande Grulla, 12:48.5; 3. Kaelynn Gonzalez, Zapata, 12:58.7; 4. Chelsey Castillo, Rio Grande Grulla, 12:59.9; 5. Jasaline Ayala, Rio Hondo, 13:01.1; 6. Kassandra Gonzales, Progreso, 13:01.6; 7. Jaqueline Mendez, Raymondville, 13:02.9; 8. Miranda Torres, La Feria, 13:05.5; 9. Stephanie Resendez, Rio Grande Grulla, 13:17.3; 10. Denise Rodriguez, Rio Grande Grulla, 13:18.2;
Boys team results:
1. Progreso 18; 2. La Feria 51; 3. Zapata 78
Boys top ten runners:
1.Jonathan Vega, Progreso, 16:18.5; 2. Gerardo Gallardo, Progreso, 16:24.4; 3. Adan Jonjuitud, Zapata, 16:40.8; 4. Rudy Sandoval, Progreso, 16:55.9; 5. Alex Pecina, Progreso, 17:02.3; 6. Greg Rangel, Progreso, 17:09.5; 7. Anthony Cepeda, La Feria, 17:16.3; 8. Santos Botello, La Feria, 17:21.1; 9. David Cervantes, Progreso, 17:21.2; 10. Samuel Cerda, Progreso, 17:25.3