Cross country competes in Hondo

After a long 20-day practice streak, it was a great feeling to get back out on a Cross Country course this weekend. The excitement filled the air as the Warhorses, Arabians, Colts, and Fillys all participated in their first ‘true’ invitational of the season. The athletes competed with heart and to their full potentials. After a long stretch between competitions, getting a time for each kid lets the coaches know what needs to be accomplished now to reach the team’s long-term goal of running after district which is on October 11th in Lytle.
“Multiple athletes placed in the top 15 to come home with medals, which is always exciting after all the hard work each of the runners put in,” stated Head Coach Khera Vay. “From top to bottom, each team has a lot of potential and, after finally running a ‘true’ meet, I feel that the athletes have their fire back and are ready to do whatever it takes to get better.”
Runner of the Week
Esperanza “Espi” Mendoza is this week’s Cross Country Runner of the Week. According to Vay, “Words cannot describe this young ladies work ethic; Espi is a go-getter. No matter the task at hand, she always accepts the challenge and strives for greatness. She was nominated this week for her outstanding performance in Hondo. After realizing that our number 1 runner was not going to be at her best due to sickness, she stepped up and ran a wonderful last mile to complete the race in 13:11. That time placed her 11th overall and it was her personal best mark. Last year at the Hondo Invitational, she ran a 15:40. She is proof of what dedication and hard work can do.”
“I’m very honored to be Runner of the Week,” stated Mendoza. “Running doesn’t have to be about work ethic, or how fast a person is. It is about showing improvement and just showing the true you.”
Results
Varsity Girls—1st-Antonian College Prep; 2nd-Bandera; 3rd-Pleasanton; 4th-Poteet; 5th-Devine; 6th-Medina Valley; 7th-LaVernia; 8th-Pearsall; 9th-Hondo; 10th-San Antonio Stacy; 11th-Holy Cross.
Varsity Arabians—Espi Mendoza-11th-13:11; Brooke Runyan-18th-13:31; Brianna Bernal-27th-13:45; Mari Murillo-35th-13:56; Abigail Whitaker-46th-14:22; Victoria Whitaker-59th-14:50; Brianna Bowyer-62nd-14:57.
Varsity Boys—1st-Antonian College Prep-33; 2nd-Medina Valley-90; 3rd-Lytle-98; 4th-Hondo-113; 5th-LaVernia-136; 6th-Pearsall-144; 7th-Poteet-206; Pleasanton-8th-212; 9th-Devine-217; 10th-Bandera-229; 11th-Holy Cross-258.
Varsity Warhorses—Collin Rogers-14th-16:48; Christian Osorio-46th-18:36; Xavier Garza-49th-18:49; Deme Santana-52nd-18:54; Ismael Vera-56th-19:48; Damian Martinez-62nd-20:37.
JV Girls—1st-Antonian College Prep-68; 2nd-Bandera-103; 3rd-Medina Valley-104; 4th-LaVernia-121; 5th-Boerne Geneva-141; 6th-Devine-145; 7th-Pleasanton-154; 8th-Hondo-160; 9th-Lytle-177; 10th-D’Hanis-186.
JV Arabians—Alexis Shook-17th-15:37; Jasmine Stricker-23rd-16:01; Lorena Chavera-27th-16:05; Grace Singleton-38th-16:31; Ana Valerio-40th-16:37.
JV Boys—1st-Antonian College Prep-31; 2nd-Lytle-52; 3rd-Medina Valley-73; 4th-Sabinal-136; 5th-LaVernia-181; 6th-Hondo-186; 7th-Somerset-188; 8th-Canyon Lake-195; 9th-Bandera-217; 10th-Boerne Geneva-233; 11th-Jourdanton-291.
JV Warhorses—Matthew Madrid-48th-20:26; Andy Cordova-62nd-21:17; Michael Reichel-71st-21:43; Zachary Alvarez-72nd-21:43.
By Jerel Beaty
Staff Writer