MISSION — Having captured first place in all the meets they have competed in, the Sharyland girls cross country team looks to stay on pace as the season progresses.
Head coach Melissa Dearth, in her 20th year of coaching, says she has set the bar high and wants to stay focused on being undefeated as well as going to district, and furthermore going to state.
“The goal this year is definitely to be undefeated and we hope to stay undefeated as the season continues,” Dearth said. “We have been changing the terrain and going to parks twice a week instead of once a week to get the girls off payment.”
Danielle Salinas, Andrea Gallardo, Arianna Gomez, Carolyn Tudor, Sidney Bravo, Ana Hernandez, and Kayla Cepeda make up the team.
Salinas, a freshman, has led the way for the Rattlers and is closing in on the area’s top runner, Weslaco High’s Amity Ebarb.
Ebarb leads all girls with a time of 19 minutes, 31 seconds, but Salinas isn’t very far behind with a time of 19:36. Third among the top times in the Valley comes from Weslaco East’s Tessie Garcia, with a time of 19:42.
“I’ve been running since I was 10 years old,” Salinas said. “The team and I run about 10 miles every day to prepare for regionals and state. We just want to stay focused for every meet and take it a day at a time.”
Freshman Caroline Tudor has been contributing to the team as Dearth says she has made the biggest impression on her.
“Carolyn Tudor, has really fit right in with varsity. She is now my fourth man and only three seconds from my third man,” Dearth said. “She has been making big leaps every week in her time. She started out with her first 5k with a time of 21:33, then the second the second race of 20:56, and her third 5k ever ran at Mercedes she ran 20:22. (She is) just a happy and easy coachable kid
“I’m very impressed with how she is handling the load and how she is improving her time at every meet. I really think she will go well under the 20 minute 5K pace.”
Dearth says the Rattlers girls cross country team continues to show progress as they are falling under 21 minutes on their times.
“The underclassman have really stepped it up during this time and still are doing well as a team despite starting behind with our seniors,” Dearth said. “Andrea Gallardo, our second man, made a big drop this week and broke 20 minutes in the 5k as well as our third, Ana Hernandez, who made a huge drop in time from 21:00 to 20:19. So they are coming back.”
With the state meet only six weeks away, preparation will get more intense.
“The training pace is getting faster,” Dearth said. “We’re still packing on the miles and still dropping times every week.”
The Sharyland High cross country girls best finish in state was 10th. During the 2017 season, the girls went to region and placed fourth. That same year, they went to state and placed 14th. Before Sharyland ISD split, they won regionals 2009 and 2012. Last season was the first time winning district for the Sharyland High girls.
With the team currently undefeated, Dearth continues to reiterate the importance of maintaining proper health.
“We’re making sure the kids stay healthy and are encouraging them to get their flu shots and plenty of Vitamin C. Last year’s cross-country and track team kept getting plagued with head colds and flus,” Dearth said. “Along with health and wellness, we are making sure the girls are stretching as a team before and after every workout and icing twice a week.”
The girls will start training and preparing for the Islander Splash Sep. 21 which will be at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi.
Sharyland’s next meet is the Island Spash, Sept. 21 at Islander Texas A&M University Corpus Christi Sep. 21.