Soggy courses and wet weather have taken a toll on the cross country season this year. The girls at La Joya Palmview are controlling what they can and winning races as a team.
The Lobos took first place Sept. 23 at the Islander Splash in Corpus Christi. On Saturday, they were scheduled to run in the McNeil Invitational in Round Rock, but inclement weather canceled that meet.
Instead, Nike South added a McNeil division to its previously scheduled event in The Woodlands, giving teams an opportunity to still race upstate.
The Lobos used three top-10 finishes to win their second straight meet.
Palmview coach Claudia Bazan said she is pleased with her team’s performance but knows there are schools and runners the Lobos haven’t been able to compete against.
“We were blessed to have the opportunity to come up here to Nike South,” Bazan said. “We didn’t run in the elite group this time around, because they accommodated the McNeil group in another division. The girls ran well. Again, in the meets that we have gone to, we haven’t seen the toughest teams that we’re going to see at region.”
Bazan has high expectations for her girls, and rightfully so. La Joya Palmview has won the district championship three years in a row.
Runners like Brianna Robles and Bailey Villalon have goals way beyond a strong showing at district.
“We’re trying to push things a little bit back as far as our training,” Bazan said. “So we’re looking to hopefully have a good showing in district. But we really want to get to the regional level and make up for our disappointing showing last year at region.”
Robles took first place in the McNeil division with a 19:00.60, while Villalon finished fifth, running a 19:48.40.
Robles finished seventh at the 6A state meet last season and is aiming for a top-five performance as a senior.
Bazan is glad to have two top-tier runners at one time, even if that means one might not get the shine she deserves. Villalon, a junior, is learning from her teammate while trying to cut time.
“(Villalon) is one of the top runners in the Valley, and because we have another exceptional athlete in our program, the majority of the time she doesn’t get the recognition that she should,” Bazan said. “It’s always good to have a teammate like Brianna that helps her in practice in terms of training. They can run together, try to place together.”