Every Thursday, El Paso Running will utilize a point system to highlight El Paso’s top cross country male 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 151 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 5K/3-mile boys and girls race times and the meets and dates that they occurred.
For questions, videos and photos email vrmart66@gmail.com.
This week’s schedule:
El Dorado Invitational: 8 a.m., Sept. 19 at Socorro’s Student Activities Complex. El Dorado, Montwood, Socorro, Pebble Hills, Coronado, Franklin, Mt. View, Anthony.
Fabens Invitational: 8 a.m., Sept. 19 at La Isla Church in Fabens. Fabens, Eastlake, El Paso, Tornillo, Burges, Clint, Valle Verde, Cathedral, Loretto.
Irvin Invitational: 8:30 a.m., Sept. 19at Veterans Park. Irvin, Americas, Bowie, Austin, Chapin, Canutillo, Parkland.
Del Valle Invitational 8a.m., Sept 19 at Del Valle High School. Del Valle, Hanks, Eastwood, Riverside, YWLA, Ysleta, Bel Air, San Eli.
Cross country was the first high school athletic event to take place in the El Paso since March. Socorro ISD officials took extra precautions for the safety of the athletics.
Top 10
1. Eastwood: The two-time defending Class 5A UIL state champion returned to the 6A ranks on Saturday with a convincing 24-point performance at the Pebble Hills Invitational at Socorro’s Student Activities Complex. Six of Eastwood’s runners finished in the top 11 including four in the top five – Isaac Mendoza, Eastwood, (2nd, 16:45.41), Nathan Hernandez, (3rd, 16:46.09), Aaron Perez, (4th, 16:48.18) and Sergio Leon Cuartas (5th, 16:50.21). Victor Anchondo, was 10th in 17:26.34 and Victor Parra was 11th in 17:31.00. The team will race at Del Valle on Saturday.
2. Americas: The Trailblazers came into Saturday’s Pebble Hills Invitational with high expectations after a preseason No. 4 state ranking. Americas is coming off its second consecutive Class 6A UIL state appearance with a bulk of its team returning. On Saturday, Americas had two runners – juniors Carmelo Corral, (6th, 16:53.24) and Jared Laverty (8th, 16:59.52) – finish in the top 10. The team scored 74 points, good for second place. The team will race at the Irvin Invitational at Veterans Park on Saturday.
3. Coronado: Like most of the top teams, the T-Birds lost its 1-2 punch in Nick Gonzalez and Alan Alba. The team will look to senior Corey Dubrule and junior Stephan Pitchkolan to lead the team. They will make their season debut at the El Dorado Invitational at Socorro’s Student Activities Complex.
4. Eastlake: The Falcons have the city’s top runner in junior Israel David who is no longer in the shadows of Hanks grad Michael Abeyta or Coronado’s Nick Gonzalez. David became the first Eastlake runner to win an individual title in an El Paso race, earning the gold at the Pebble Hills Invitational at Socorro’s Student Activities Center in 16:17.18. The team earned a third-place spot with 108 points. They will race at the Isla Invitational in Fabens.
5. San Elizario: The Eagles, the No. 1 ranked Class 4A team in Texas, struggled just a bit at Saturday’s Pebble Hills Invitational finishing a distant fourth with 114 points. Senior Edwin Gomez was the top runner finishing 7th in 16:58.69 and senior Dilan Sanchez was 12th in 17:31.96. San Elizario hopes to improve when they race at Del Valle on Saturday.
6. Cathedral: The Fighting Irish appear to be back as a major player in the city. The team scored an impressive 32 points to earn the title at the Andress Invitational at Skyline Park. Cathedral had six runners in the top 10 including Luis Gomez (4th, 17:04.09), Elijah Noble (fifth, 17:35.18), Jacob Noble (6th, 17:35.58), Dylan Lorilla, (8th, 18:00.60), Marcos Garcia (9th, 18:09.39) and Bernard Martinez (10th, 18:16.94). They will compete in the La Isla Invitational in Fabens on Saturday.
7. Tornillo: The Coyotes, ranked No. 1 in the Class 3A in the state, had two runners finish in the top three at the Andress Invitational at Skyline Park. Angel Torres was second in 17:01.88 and Bryan Garcia was third in 17:03.25). The team will compete in the La Isla Invitational in Fabens on Saturday.
8. Socorro: The Bulldogswon the Riverside Invitational with 44 points at Blackie Chesher Park. Socorro placed three runners in the top 10 including Jorge Garcia, (2nd, 17:38.90), David Ortega (5th, 18:37.13) and Juan Uribe (8th, 19:00.41). Socorro will race at the El Dorado Invitational at the SAC on Saturday.
9. Franklin: The Cougars pack was tight atSaturday’s Pebble Hills Invitational with its top five finishing within 10 spots of each other. The team just needs to move up in placement in order to be successful.
10. Riverside: The Rangers has shown vast improvement and finished two points behind Socorro at the Blackie Chesher Park. Two Riverside runners finished in the top 10 – Andrew Valdiviezo who won the meet in 17:15.36 and Eric Lopez who placed 10th in 19:13.92. Riverside will race at Del Valle on Saturday
Dropped out: None.
On the brink: Bel Air, Del Valle.
Eastlake junior Israel David (center) became the first cross country male athlete from Eastlake to win an individual title. No doubt, it will be the first of many.
Top times (5K/3Miile)
1, Israel David, Eastlake, 16:17.18 (SAC, 9/12).
2, Joaquin Ortega, Chapin, 16:36.25 (Skyline Park, 9/12).
3, Isaac Mendoza, Eastwood, 16:45.41 (SAC, 9/12).
4, Nathan Hernandez, Eastwood, 16:46.09 (SAC, 9/12).
5, Aaron Perez, Eastwood, 16:48.18 (SAC, 9/12).
6, Sergio Leon Cuartas, Eastwood, 16:50.21 (SAC, 9/12).
7, Carmelo Corral, Americas, 16:53.24 (SAC, 9/12).
8, Edwin Gomez, San Elizario, 16:58.69 (SAC, 9/12).
9, Jared Laverty, Americas, 16:59.52 (SAC, 9/12).
10, Angel Torres, Tornillo, 17:01.88 (Skyline Park, 9/12).
11, Bryan Garcia, Tornillo, 17:03.25 (Skyline Park, 9/12).
12, Luis Gomez, Cathedral, 17:04.09 (Skyline Park, 9/12).
13, Andrew Valdiviezo, Riverside, 17:15.36 (Blackie Chesher, 9/12).
14, Omer Ibrahim, Pebble Hills, 17:25.47 (SAC, 9/12).
15, Victor Anchondo, Eastwood, 17:26.34 (SAC, 9/12).
16, Victor Parra, Eastwood, 17:31.00 (SAC, 9/12).
17, Dilan Sanchez, San Elizario, 17:31.96 (SAC, 9/12).
18, Elijah Noble, Cathedral, 17:35.18 (Skyline Park, 9/12).
19, Jacob Noble, Cathedral, 17:35.58 (Skyline Park, 9/12).
20, Jorge Garcia, Socorro, 17:38.90 (Blackie Chesher, 9/12).
21, Miguel Avila, Del Valle, 17:49.53 (Blackie Chesher, 9/12).
22, Kenneth Lamar Golston, Parkland, 17:51.77 (Blackie Chesher, 9/12).
23, Andres Gurrola, Eastwood, 17:53.15 (SAC, 9/12).
24, Nicholas Parra, Eastwood, 17:54.21 (SAC, 9/12).
25, Devon Paez, Eastwood, 18:18.28 (SAC, 9/12).
Eastwood’s Isaac Mendoza was second at the Pebble Hills Invitational at the sandy, hilly course at Socorro’s Student Activities Complex. Americas junior Carmelo Corral to led Americas.
Power rankings
(number in parenthesis indicate meets won)
1, Israel David, Eastlake, 10 (1).
1, Andrew Valdiviezo, Riverside, 10 (1).
1, Joaquin Ortega, Chapin, 10 (1).
4, Isaac Mendoza, Eastwood, 9.
4, Jorge Garcia, Socorro, 9.
4, Angel Torres, Tornillo, 9.
7, Nathan Hernandez, Eastwood, 8.
7, Miguel Avila, Del Valle, 8.
7, Bryan Garcia, Tornillo, 8.
10, Aaron Perez, Eastwood, 7.
10, Kenneth Lamar Golston, Parkland, 7.
10, Luis Gomez, Cathedral, 7.
Sergio Leon Cuartas, Eastwood, 6.
David Ortega, Socorro, 6.
Elijah Noble, Cathedral, 6.
Carmelo Corral, Americas, 5.
Venancio Claderon, El Dorado, 5.
Jacob Noble, Cathedral, 5.
Edwin Gomez, San Elizario, 4.
Aden Hodgson, El Dorado, 4.
William Moreno, Bel Air, 4.
Jared Laverty, Americas, 3.
Juan Uribe, Socorro, 3.
Dylan Lorilla, Cathedral, 3.
Omer Ibrahim, Pebble Hills, 2.
Francisco Reyes, Jefferson, 2.
Marcos Garcia, Cathedral, 2.
Victor Anchondo, Eastwood, 1.
Eric Lopez, Riverside, 1.
Bernard Martinez, Cathedral, 1.
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