Day: September 8, 2021

High School Girl’s XC Poll: Week 4

Every Wednesday, El Paso Running will utilize a point system to highlight El Paso’s top girls 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 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 girls race times and the meets and dates that they occurred.

For questions, videos and photos email vrmart66@gmail.com.

This week’s schedule

EPISD Invitational: 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11 at Mary Francis Keisling Park, 651 Gomez. Franklin, Coronado, Bowie, Eastlake, Socorro, Montwood, Riverside, Del Valle, Clint, Ft Hancock. Anthony, LPI, Harmony.

Loretto/Cathedral Invitational: 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11 at Veterans Park. Burges, El Paso, Irvin Jefferson, Andress, Chapin El Dorado, Americas, Eastwood, Valle Verde, Ysleta, Hanks, Parkland, Bel Air, YWLA, Mt.View, Horizon, Tornillo, Canutillo, Pebble Hills, Fabens, Loretto, Cathedral, San Elizario.

As the fourth week of the season begins, many teams will resting up for out-of-town invitationals.

Top 10

1. Eastwood: The Troopers take over the top spot after winning the Pebble Hills Invitational at Vista Hills Country Club with 38 points, 11 better than previous No. 1 Franklin. Eastwood had three runners – senior Lauren Walls-Portillo (first, 19:05.8), freshman Adelynn Rodriguez (second, 19:43.6) and junior Sophia Watts (ninth, 21:21.1) – finish in the top 10. It was the second straight week Walls-Portillo and Rodriguez finished 1-2. Eastwood’s five scores finished in the top 19. Eastwood will race at the Loretto/Cathedral Invitational at Veterans Park on Saturday.

2. Franklin: The Cougars drop a spot after finishing second at the Pebble Hills Invitational with 47 points. Its top three runners were junior Alyssa Laspada (third, 20:19.10, senior Jenna Saunders (fifth, 20:27.7) and senior Jordan Torres, Franklin (seventh, 21:07.1). Franklin will try to regroup at the EPISD Invitational at Mary Francis Keisling Park on Saturday.

3. Pebble Hills: The Spartans hold steady at No. 3 after its third-place at the Pebble Hills Invitational, scoring 72 points. Its top runners were junior Natalia Martinez (sixth, 20:51.1) and sophomore Carolina Zarrabal (eighth, 21:14.4). Pebble Hills will race at the Loretto/Cathedral Invitational at Veterans Park on Saturday.

4. Montwood:  The Rams did not run a full team at the Ysleta/Riverside Invitational at Shawver Park, however junior Kassandra Jimenez won the event in 19:26.77 and senior Alexa Rangel was fourth in 20:27.46. Montwood will race at EPISD Invitational at Mary Francis Keisling Park on Saturday.

5. Jefferson: The Foxes won its second consecutive team championship taking first-place at the Ysleta/Riverside Invitational at Shawver Park with 58 points. Junior Crystal Peterson was fifth in 20:34.35 and senior Monique Correa was sixth in 20:40.23 to lead Jefferson. Jefferson will race at the Loretto/Cathedral Invitational at Veterans Park on Saturday.

6. Coronado: The T-Birds finished fourth at the Pebble Hills Invitational at Vista Hills Country Club with 87 points. Coronado’s top three three runners finished 13th (sophomore Alexa Lawrence, 21:47.1), 14th (junior Kyra Walker, 21:56.2) and 17th (senior Banah Abdeljaber (22:14.9). Coronado will race at the EPISD Invitational at Mary Francis Keisling Park on Saturday.

7. Del Valle: The Conquistadores did not race a full team at the Ysleta/Riverside Invitational. It’s top two runners were seniors Anisa Sanchez (12th, 21:09.11) and   Disany Sandoval (13th, 21:12.83). Del Valle will at the EPISD Invitational at Mary Francis Keisling Park on Saturday.

8. Hanks: The Knights finished second with 75 points at the Ysleta/Riverside Invitational at Shawver Park. Senior Mia Rivera was third in 19:53.20. Freshman Elizabeth Aguirre was the only top 20 runner, placing 15th in 21:53.64.  The team will race at the Loretto/Cathedral Invitational at Veterans Park on Saturday.

9. Canutillo: The Eagles were third (four points behind Hanks) at the Ysleta/Riverside Invitational.  Junior Natalie Rivera was second overall in 19:45.20 and junior Dania Cano was ninth in 20:57.06. Canutillo will race at the Loretto/Cathedral Invitational on Saturday.

10. Socorro: For the second straight week, the Bulldogs did not run a full team at the Pebble Hills Invitational. Senior Ana Rojas was 12th in 21:44.8. The team will race at the EPISD Invitational at Mary Francis Keisling Park on Saturday.

Dropped out: None.

On the brink: El Paso High, Burges, Eastlake.

Hanks senior Mia Rivera is having a great season, ranking in the top 20 in overall time and in the top 10 in power rankings.

Top times (3 mile or 5K)

1, Lauren Walls-Portillo, Eastwood, 17:58.28 (Del Valle, 8/28).

2, Alyssa Laspada, Franklin, 18:30.07 (Southlake, 8/28).

3, Adelynn Rodriguez, Eastwood, 18:37.95 (Del Valle, 8/28).

4, Pamela Ramirez, Burges, 18:59.11 (Del Valle, 8/28).

5, Kassandra Jimenez, Montwood, 18:59.84 (Del Valle, 8/28).

6, Natalia Martinez, Pebble Hills, 19:08.03 (Del Valle, 8/28).

7, Jordan Torres, Franklin, 19:22.07 (Canutillo, 8/21).

8, Jenna Saunders, Franklin, 19:37.63 (Southlake, 8/28).

9, Adalia Olmos, Eastwood, 19:41.07 (Del Valle, 8/28).

10, Natalie Rivera, Canutillo, 19:45.20 (Shawver Park, 9/4).

11, Ana Rojas, Socorro, 19:46.94 (Del Valle, 8/28).

12, Abby Barraza, Franklin, 19:52.45 (Canutillo, 8/21).

13, Mia Rivera, Hanks, 19:53.20 (Shawver Park, 9/4).

14, Salma Licon, Eastwood, 19:54.44 (Del Valle, 8/28).

15, Carolina Zarrabal, Pebble Hills, 19:58.92 (Del Valle, 8/28).

16, Sofia Camacho, Franklin, 20:03.13 (Canutillo, 8/21).

17, Valeria Loo-Kung, Del Valle, 20:16.96 (Del Valle, 8/28).

18, Michele Paillard, Franklin, 20:47.35 (Southlake, 8/28).

19, Caroline Pitchkolan, Coronado, 20:52.26 (Canutillo, 8/21).

20, Alexa Lawrence, Coronado, 20:55.11 (Canutillo, 8/21).

21, Lexee Salas, Americas, 20:57.20 (Cleveland, 8/28).

22, Isabella Medina, Americas, 21:03.20 (Canutillo, 8/21).

23, Crystal Peterson, Jefferson, 21:08.65 (Chaparral, 8/28).

24, Monique Correa, Jefferson, 21:17.61 (Chaparral, 8/28).

25, Abigail Murillo, Bel Air, 20:18.22 (Del Valle, 8/28).

The Pebble Hills girls have been this season’s sleeper, ranking at No. 3 in this week’s El Paso Running Top 10.

Power rankings
(number parenthesis indicate meets won):

1, Lauren Walls-Portillo, Eastwood, 29 (2).

2, Adelynn Rodriguez, Eastwood, 28 (1).

3, Alyssa Laspada, Franklin, 26 (1).

4, Natalie Rivera, Canutillo, 25 (1).

5, Pamela Ramirez, Burges, 24.

6, Natalia Martinez, Pebble Hills, 21 (1).

6, Kassandra Jimenez, Montwood, 21 (1).

6, Mia Rivera, Hanks, 21.

9, Jenna Saunders, Franklin, 19.

9, Jordan Torres, Franklin, 19.

Monique Correa, Jefferson, 18.

Crystal Peterson, Jefferson, 15.

Alexa Rangel, Montwood, 14.

Carolina Zarrabal, Pebble Hills, 12.

Abby Barraza, Franklin, 10.

Andrea Castillo, EPHS, 10.

Dania Cano, Canutillo, 7.

Anisa Sanchez, Del Valle, 6.

Elizabeth Hernandez, Austin, 6.

Adalia Olmos, Eastwood, 5.

Ana Rojas, Socorro, 5.

Sofia Camacho, Franklin, 4.

Natalie Franco, Pebble Hills, 4.

Jaylee Levario, Bel Air, 4.

Allison Perez, Coronado, 3.

Disany Sandoval, Del Valle, 3.

Salma Licon, Eastwood, 3.

Ana Rojas, Coronado, 3.

Giselle Rubio, Eastlake, 2.

Caroline Pitchkolan, Coronado, 2.

Sophia Watts, Eastwood, 2.

Olivia Garcia, Tornillo, 1.

Alexa Lawrence, Coronado, 1.

Jennifer Najar, Canutillo, 1.

Abigail Murillo, Bel Air, 1.

Lexee Salas, Americas, 1.