DONNA — Evan Williams crossed the finish line at the Donna ISD Invitational first to the usual fan section of his coaches and family. This Saturday, however, running royalty was also looking on. Thomas Valle and Johnny Samaniego, two runners from McFarland High School, were on hand to meet with fans and runners.
“I was really stoked coming into this meet, because I had met the McFarland guys about a year back. … They remembered me,” Williams said after receiving his medal. “I was really honored, because these guys (are) bringing cross country into the spotlight showing a movie, and it really showed me. I was able to come out and win and show them how it’s done at McAllen Memorial and in the Valley.”
Williams passed Mercedes’ Dominic Cavazos for the lead in the final 200 meters of Saturday’s race. His brother Trevor passed the same runner right before the finish to secure another Williams and Williams sweep.
McAllen Memorial finished second as a team overall behind Sharyland Pioneer.
“Two weeks ago, I had a problem with my calf, so I took a break for a maybe two days,” Evan Williams said. “I was really able to push myself and come back really strong in order to come and take this win.”
The guests of honor were happy to take pictures and chat with fans but were serious about their message. The film “McFarland, USA” was released in 2015. The movie is about McFarland’s rise to prominence as an elite cross country team built from seven boys with harsh socioeconomic conditions.
Samaniego reflected on his visits with students at various campuses since the pair arrived in the Valley on Wednesday. Many times, the backgrounds of those he talked to didn’t differ much from his own upbringing.
“When we talked to several schools here in the Valley, (we learned) the Rio Grande Valley mirrors the Central Valley in California where we grew up,” Samaniego said. “Kids growing up (with) their parents working in the field. Our message to them is, ‘There are challenges in life and hard work — whether it be in the fields or on the course or on the field of sports — can be used as a vehicle of higher education. Educate yourself and come back to your community and give back.”
Valle compared the small town of McFarland that produced a state championship cross country team in 1987 to many towns and high schools in the Valley with similar aspirations.
“For us, being in a small school like here in the Rio Grande Valley, it was like we were underdogs and Mr. White (the coach at McFarland) always inspired us,” Valle said. “You know that you got to go out there and dream big and have high expectations. It’s all in the attitude. Don’t let your environment dictate your attitude.”
Runners in all divisions were thrown a curveball when they found out the course would be altered due to overnight rain.
Progreso’s Lizbett Rivera managed the change well and finished in second place with a 19:49, sandwiched between two girls from Eagle Pass.
“We don’t know the course, so we don’t know if you’re actually going to do good,” Rivera said. “You have to run a smart race. You have to know if you’re going to make it. Keep strong at some parts, keep your pace at others. It’s just about doing a smart race.”
Donna North boys coach Basilio Mendoza said his goal was to make the event something that coaches and participants alike could remember and use as motivation for cross country and beyond.
“We definitely wanted to make it special, and we did that by bringing McFarland, USA here,” Mendoza said. “I think what I want kids to take away is if they can do it, we can do it.”