Fresh off its Region 4-3A Championship in Corpus Christi, the Lytle Lady Pirate Cross Country team runs its final race of the season on the event’s biggest stage Friday as they compete at the State Meet in Round Rock. Lytle scored 75 points to edge out runner-up and district foe Poth who had 86 points for the Regional championship plaque.
“What a wonderful day,” said Head Coach Gilbert Ruiz after his team’s performance in the humid climate of Corpus Christi. “What an amazing race by Natalie Williams who set her personal record and by all runners who finished in the top 35 spots among 179 runners.”
Williams, Eisabel Guerrero, Moriah Gomez, Marissa Lopez, Samantha Mujica, Jady Bororquez, and Dezmarie Ortega were all part of that regional championship that now competes for a state championship.
“Natalie became only the third girl in the last 20+ years to finish in the top 10 and get a regional medal, qualifying her to State (Natalie Cortez 3rd in ’13, Clarissa Cantu 9th in ’18, and now Natalie Williams 6th in 2021),” Ruiz said looking back at his team’s amazing championship. “This is an amazing group of girls that can handle being coached hard and never take things personally. The trust that they have in me and each other has helped them win four straight meets and now they hope that they have enough left to get on that medal stand.”
The Lady Pirates had to overcome adversity throughout the season as several runners battled nagging injuries throughout the year. Being in a small school that shares athletes with other extracurricular activities also limited the amount of opportunities that the squad had to be at full strength.
“This was the first time all year that these seven girls ran together as a team due to injuries or other school activities,” Ruiz stated. “Now they will get the opportunity to compete for one more medal as they travel to Round Rock on November 5th.”
Shout out
Coach Ruiz’s final words came to those that have stood side by side with him and his team as they have put together a terrific 2021 campaign. He said, “I want to thank the Lytle ISD community, the parents, and all the supporters that tolerated that weather (in Corpus) to witness something special. It was the first time all our participants came home with a medal from a Regional meet. They literally gave it their all for each other as we had 2 girls and 1 boy that had to be carried to the medical tent after the race for medical attention. What they did for each other was truly amazing.”
Good wishes
Best of luck to the Lytle Lady Pirate Cross Country team as they race for gold at State on November 5 at 10:00am.
By Jerel Beaty
Staff Writer