Every Thursday, El Paso Running will utilize a point system to highlight El Paso’s top boys cross country runners.
The system is as follows: In a race of less than 150 runners, first place gets 10 points, second gets 9 points all the way down to and 10th place which gets 1 point. For meets with between 150 to 300 runners, double points will be rewarded meaning 20 points for first, 19 for second all the way down to 1 point for 20th. For every additional 150 runners, another 10 runners will be included in the points.
For those who like raw times, we also list the Top 25 boys and girls race times and the meets and dates that they occurred.
This week’s schedule:
Franklin Invitational: 8 a.m. Sept. 14 at the Don Haskins Recreational Center/Park. Franklin, Coronado, Canutillo, Chapin, EPHS, Mt View, Clint, Eastlake, Americas, VVEC, El Dorado, Del Valle.
Loretto/Cathedral Invitational: 8:30 a.m. Sept. 14 at Veterans Park. Cathedral, Austin, Jefferson, Fabens, Bowie, Ft Hancock, Burges, LPI, Eastwood, Hanks, Bel Air, YWLA, Parkland, Socorro, Pebble Hills, Montwood, Andress, San Eli, Horizon, Ysleta, Andress, Loretto, Riverside.
Cobre Invitational: 10 a.m. Sept. 14 at Bataan Memorial Park in Fort Baynard, N.M. Irvin.
Guyer Invitational: 8 a.m. Sept. 14 in Denton. Socorro and Tornillo.
For questions, videos and photos email vrmart66@gmail.com.
Top 10
1, Eastwood: The Troopers had four runners in the top 5 to score 19 points and win the Rudy Alvarez Invitational at Del Valle. Juan Olmos won the 3.19 mile run in 15:59.63 followed by Sergio Leon Cuartas (16:07.38) and Elias Perez (16:15.88). Nathan Hernandez was fifth (16:37.47) and Victor Parra was eight (17:01.81). Eastwood will rest its varsity this weekend as the team prepares for the Woodbridge (Calif.) Cross Country Classic on Sept. 21. Eastwood is ranked No. 1 in Class 5A by Texas MileSplit and No. 15 in the United States by MileSplit USA.
2, Americas: The Trailblazers had six runners finish in the top 8 for a score of 24 at the 2.5 mile El Dorado/Pebble Hills Invitational at Ascarate Golf Course. Hector Sanchez was second (13:06.91) followed by Jacob Ye (fourth, 13:12.78), Melo Corral (fifth, 13:13.87), Gage Garcia (sixth, 13:16.40), Seth Andrade (seventh, 13:18.56) and Aaron Saenz (eighth, 13:31.75). Americas will race the Franklin Invitational at the Don Haskins Recreational Center/Park. The Trailblazers are ranked No. 10 in Class 6A by Texas MilesSplit.
3, Franklin: The Cougars finished second at the Rudy Alvarez Invitational at Del Valle with 61 points. Fernie Morales and Daniel Kennedy continue to have solid seasons with Morales finishing fourth in 16:21.66 and Kennedy ninth in 17:07.50. The Cougars will travel to Del Valle High School for the Rudy Alvarez Invitational on Saturday. Franklin is ranked No. 23 in Class 6A by Texas MileSplit.
4, San Elizario: The Eagles scored 101 points and finished third at the Rudy Alvarez Invitational at Del Valle. Junior Edwin Gomez was sixth in 16:46.07 and senior Rene Arambula was 11th in 17:25.30. The Eagles will race at the Loretto/Cathedral Invitational at Veterans Park on Saturday. San Elizario is ranked No. 4 in Class 4A by Texas MileSplit.
5, Coronado: The T-Birds finished second at the 2.5 mile El Dorado/Pebble Hills Invitational at Ascarate Golf Course with 44 points. Senior Nick Gonzalez won for the second straight week in 12:55.03. Alan Alba was third in 13:11.97 and Stephen Pitchkolan was 10th in 13:50.53. Coronado will run the Franklin Invitational at the Don Haskins Recreational Center/Park on Saturday.
6, Hanks: The Knights – without its top two runners – finished fourth at the Rudy Alvarez Invitational at Del Valle. Hanks was led by Gael Alvarado who finished 10th in 17:20.50. Michael Abeyta won the Elite Division at the Southlake Carroll Invitational in 15:25.84. Hanks, which is ranked No. 4 in Class 5A by Texas MileSplit, will race at the Loretto/Cathedral Invitational at Veterans Park on Saturday.
7, Chapin: The Huskies placed fifth at the Rudy Alvarez Invitational with 147 points. Once again, senior Angel Contreras paced the Huskies with a seventh-place finish in 16:59.50. The team will race at the Rudy Alvarez Invitational on Saturday. Chapin will run the Franklin Invitational at the Don Haskins Recreational Center/Park on Saturday.
8, Eastlake: The Falcons did not race its varsity last week. They will race at the Franklin Invitational on Saturday.
9, Tornillo: Tornillo placed sixth at the 23-team, 185-runner UT-Tyler Cross Country Classic in Tyler Texas. Senior Ofir Ortega was fourth in 16:15.48. The Coyotes will race at the Texas MileSplit Invitational hosted by Denton Guyer. Texas MileSplit has Tornillo ranked No. 3 in Class 3A.
10, Montwood: The Rams were third at the El Dorado/Pebble Hills Invitational. The team finished with 78 points. Trenton Nelson was ninth in 13:45.66 Montwood is scheduled to compete at the Loretto/Cathedral Invitational at Veterans Park.
Dropped out: Socorro.
On the verge: Cathedral, Ysleta.
Top times (3-mile or 5K)
1, Michael Abeyta Hanks, 15:25.84 (Southlake Carroll, 9/7).
2, Rodger Rivera, Hanks, 15:29.04 (Race to Midnight, SAC, 8/24).
3, Elias Perez, Eastwood 15:42.30 (Canutillo Invitational, 8/31).
4, Juan Olmos, Eastwood, 15:51.54 (Canutillo Invitational, 8/31).
5, Isreal David, Eastlake, 16:04.45 (Canutillo Invitational 8/31).
6, Sergio Leon Cuartas, Eastwood, 16:05.24 (Canutillo Invitational 8/31).
7, Fernie Morales, Franklin, 16:05.83 (Canutillo Invitational 8/31).
8, Hector Sanchez, Americas, 16:08.28 (Cleveland Invitational, 8/31).
9, Daniel Kennedy, Franklin, 16:15.25, (Canutillo Invitational 8/31).
10, Ofir Ortega, Tornillo, 16:15.48 (Tyler Lee Classic, 9/7).
11, Melo Corral, Americas, 16:20.47 (Race to Midnight, SAC, 8/24).
12, Nick Gonzalez, Coronado, 16:27.00 (UNM Invitational, 8/31).
13, Edwin Gomez, San Elizario, 16:30.08. (La Isla Invitational, 8/31).
14, Nathan Hernandez, Eastwood, 16:30.91 (Canutillo Invitational 8/31).
15, Angel Contreras, Chapin, 16:33.21 (Canutillo Invitational 8/31).
16, Aaron Saenz, Americas, 16:34.31 (Cleveland Invitational, 8/31).
17, Christian Parra, Socorro, 16:34.47 (Marcus Invitational, 8/31).
18, Aaron Perez, Eastwood, 16:36.61 (Canutillo Invitational 8/31).
19, Seth Andrade, Americas, 16:41.32 (Cleveland Invitational, 8/31).
20, Jacob Ye, Americas, 16:42.89 (Cleveland Invitational, 8/31).
21, Gage Garcia, Americas, 16:43.77 (Race to Midnight, SAC, 8/24).
22, Jared Laverty, Americas, 16:50.11 (Race to Midnight, SAC, 8/24).
23, Alan Alba, Coronado 16:51.00 9 (UNM Invitational, 8/31).
24, Steven Porras Franklin, 16:51.92 (Canutillo Invitational 8/31).
25, Victor Parra, Eastwood, 16:53.73 (Canutillo Invitational 8/31).
Power rankings
(number parenthesis indicate meets won):
1, Ofir Ortega, Tornillo, 35 (1).
2, Michael Abeyta, Hanks, 30 (2).
3, Hector Sanchez, Americas, 23.
4, Fernie Morales, Franklin, 22 (1).
4, Edwin Gomez, San Elizario, 22.
6, Nick Gonzalez, Coronado, 20 (2).
7, Juan Olmos, Eastwood, 18 (1).
8, Alan Alba, Coronado, 17.
8, Elias Perez, Eastwood, 17.
10, Isreal David, Eastlake, 16.
Dilan Sanchez, San Elizario, 15.
Sergio Leon Cuartas, Eastwood, 14.
Melo Corral, Americas, 14.
Rene Arambula, San Elizario, 11.
Daniel Kennedy, Franklin, 11.
Rodger Rivera, Hanks, 10 (1).
Gage Garcia, Americas, 10.
Matthew Avila, El Paso, 9.
Christian Parra, Socorro, 9.
Nathan Hernandez, Eastwood, 9.
Steve Porras, Franklin, 9.
Jorge Garcia, Socorro, 7.
Alex Sanchez, Horizon, 7.
Jacob Martinez, Americas, 7.
David Gonzalez, Burges, 7.
Angel Contreras, Chapin, 6.
Aaron Saenz, Americas, 6.
Michael Bernal, Pebble Hills, 6.
Cristian Ibarra, Ysleta, 6.
Dylan Walker, Burges, 6.
Seth Andrade, Americas, 5.
Stephen Pitchkolan, Coronado, 5.
Jared Laverty, Americas, 4.
Jose Nilo, Austin, 4.
Joaquin Sanchez, Chapin, 3.
Dylan Espinosa, Bowie, 3.
Isaac Becerill, Canutillo, 3.
Victor Parra, Eastwood, 3.
Trenton Nelson, Montwood, 2.
Evan Rubio, Ysleta, 2.
Irvin Vazquez, San Elizario, 2.
Alan Ceballos, San Elizario, 1.
Joshua Gonazalez, Mt. View, 1.
Aaron Perez, Eastwood, 1.
Jacob Ontiveros, El Paso High, 1
Gael Alvarado, Hanks, 1.
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