Devine High School Cross Country teams traveled to Corpus Christi to run in the Annual Islander Splash last Saturday morning. The Warhorses placed 9th out of 34 teams while the Arabians came in 13th of 40 teams.
Warhorses
Isiah Morin paced the Horses once again coming in 19th with an 18:49 5K effort. Three hundred-five runners from 1A to 4A programs stretched from side to side to start the race.
Morin has an excellent chance to make it out of Region IV this season as one of the top individual runners as only 9 of the top 19 runners were from 4A schools.
Christopher Ortiz placed 50th followed closely by teammate Thomas TJ Mendoza. Only one second separated those two Warhorses. Marcus Espinosa finished in the top third at 75th, while Kirtofer Aguirre, Jesse House, Taylor Hurst, and Stephen Culver also competed for Devine.
Arabians
Freshman Airyanna Rodriguez continues to lead the Arabian team as she finished 25th overall out of 334 competitors. Rodriguez ran a 13:52 two-mile time.
Kristina Moralez placed only eight spots behind Rodriguez at 33rd. Moralez finally had a night off from performing “Willie Warhorse” duties giving her a chance to compete on a Saturday morning with fresh legs for the first time this season.
Charlee Rangel was the other Arabian to claim a top 50 spot with her 40th place finish. Trinity Black, Jilliyn Guajardo, Kendall Marek, and Rebecca Mares also ran for the Arabians.
Boy team ranks
1st La Vernia 88, 2nd St. Joseph Academy 95, 3rd Bandera 129, 4th Boerne 130, 5th Brownsville Frontier College Prep 145, 6th Lytle 230, 7th San Antonio Cole 266, 8th Zapata 268, 9th Devine 270, 10th Vanguard Rembrandt 279.
Warhorses
19th Isiah Morin 18:49, 50th Chris Ortiz 20:01, 51st Thomas TJ Mendoza 20:02, 75th Marcus Espinosa 20:53, 102nd Kristofer Aguirre, 124th Jesse House 22:19, 153rd Taylor Hurst 22:53, 154th Stephen Culver 22:53.
Girl team ranks
Antonio Cole 257, 7th Sinton 259, 8th Johnson City LBJ 267, 9th Robstown 286, 10th La Vernia 286, 11th Skidmore-Tynan 321, 12th Beeville Jones 346, 13th Devine 378.
Arabians
25th Airyanna Rodriguez 13:52, 33rd Kristina Morales 14:02, 40th Charlie Rangel 14:06, 142nd Trinity Black 15:40, 207th Jilliyn Guajardo 16:41, 219th Kendall Marek 16:52, 265th Rebecca Mares 18:12.
Up next
According to the original season schedule, the Warhorses and Arabians have this Saturday off before returning to competition in a home meet on Wednesday, September 29. This meet is at Devine Golf Course.
By Jerel Beaty
Staff Writer
Warhorses 9th, Arabians 13th in Corpus at Islander Splash XC Invitational
