Day: September 9, 2021

High School Boy’s XC Poll: Week 4

Every Thursday, El Paso Running will utilize a point system to highlight El Paso’s top boy’s 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.

The first month of the season has seen some amazing races with city leaders quickly emerging. The next several weeks of racing promise to be just as exciting.

Top 10

1. Eastwood: The Troopers had four runners in the top 10 – and eight in the top 15 – to win the Pebble Hills Invitational at Vista Hills Country Club with 37 points. Seniors Isaac Mendoza (fourth, 16:16.53), Andres Gurrola (fifth, 16:18.80) and Victor Anchondo (ninth, 17:03.05) and junior Joaquin Chavez (tenth, 17:04.52) all finished in the top 10. Eastwood will race at the Loretto/Cathedral Invitational at Veterans Park. 

2. Americas: The Trailblazers finished second at the Pebble Hills Invitational with 42 points. Senior Jared Laverty picked up his city-leading third win of the season in 15:55.84. Americas had two other runners finish in the top 10 – seniors Carmelo Corral (seventh, 16:35.44) and Aaron Saenz (eighth, 16:10.92). Americas will race at the Loretto/Cathedral Invitational at Veterans Park. 

3. Franklin: The Cougars placed third at the Pebble Hills Invitational with 93 points. Junior Diego Flores was the top Franklin runner finishing 11th in 17:48.32.  The Cougars will race at the EPISD Invitational at Mary Francis Keisling Park on Saturday.

4. Cathedral:  The Irish rested last week but will be back in action at its own invitational at Veterans Park on Saturday.

5. San Elizario: The Eagles won the Riverside/Ysleta Invitational at Shawver Park

with 64 points. San Elizario had four runners in the top 10 led by junior Chris Moreno who won the event in 16:01.03. Senior Irvin Vazquez was sixth (17:17.55), junior Matthew Maese was eighth (17:26.49) and senior Alan Ceballos was ninth (17:26.76). San Elizario will race at the Loretto/Cathedral Invitational at Veterans Park on Saturday. 

6. Pebble Hills: The Spartans finished fourth at its own invitational at Vista Hills Country Club. Junior Omer Ibrahim was the lone top 10-finisher, placing sixth in 16:27.48. The team will race at the Loretto/Cathedral Invitational at Veterans Park on Saturday. 

7. Eastlake: The Falcons did not run a full team at Vista Hills Country Club, however, senior Israel David managed his second, runner-up finish in 16:02.95. The team will race at the EPISD Invitational at Mary Francis Keisling Park on Saturday.

8. Coronado: The T-Birds placed fifth at the Pebble Hills Invitational at Vista Hills Country Club. Junior Luis Pastor, finished third in 16:09.55. Junior Sam Flores was the only other T-Bird to finish in the top 20, placing 18th in 18:00.10. Coronado will race at the EPISD Invitational at Mary Francis Keisling Park.

9. Riverside: The Rangers finished second at its own invitational at Shawver Park with 70 points, six points behind San Elizario. Riverside placed two runners – seniors Andrew Valdiviezo (fourth, 16:53.05) and senior Jayden Bustillos (seventh, 17:19.46) – finish in the top 10. Riverside will compete at the EPISD Invitational at Mary Francis Keisling Park on Saturday.

10. Hanks: The Knights placed third at the Riverside/Ysleta Invitational at Shawver Park. Junior Alejandro Tarin was second (16:01.51) and senior Gael Alvarado was third in 16:19.03. The team will race at the Loretto/Cathedral Invitational at Veterans Park. 

Dropped out: None.

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

The Rangers have put together a solid early season behind seniors Andrew Valdiviezo and Jayden Bustillos.

Top times (3 mile or 5K)

1, Omer Ibrahim, Pebble Hills, 15:02.15 (Del Valle, 8/28).

2, Israel David, Eastlake, 15:02.73 (Del Valle, 8/28).

3, Luis Pastor, Coronado, 15:04.79 (Del Valle, 8/28).

4, Andres Gurrola, Eastwood, 15:22.34 (Del Valle, 8/28).

5, Jared Laverty, Americas, 15:24.83 (Canutillo, 8/21).

6, Isaac Mendoza, Eastwood, 15:35.95 (Del Valle, 8/28).

7, Chris Moreno, San Elizario, 15:38.71 (Del Valle, 8/28).

8, Devon Paez, Eastwood, 15:39.93 (Del Valle, 8/28).

9, Carmelo Corral, Americas, 15:41.95 (Canutillo, 8/21).

10, Daniel Romero, Tornillo, 15:44.07 (Del Valle, 8/28).

11, Andrew Valdiviezo, Riverside, 16:01.41 (Del Valle, 8/28).

12, Alejandro Tarin, Hanks, 16:01.51 (Shawver Park, 9/4).

13, Victor Anchondo, Eastwood, 16:02.19 (Del Valle, 8/28)

14, Aaron Saenz, Americas 16:04.0 (Cleveland, 8/28).

15, Joaquin Chavez, Eastwood, 16:10.00 (Del Valle, 8/28).

16, Anthony Casillas, Eastwood, 16:12.01 (Del Valle, 8/28).

17, Gael Alvarado, Hanks, 16:19.03 (Shawver Park, 9/4).

18, Isaac Romero, Franklin, 16:22.86 (Southlake, 8/28).

19, Diego Flores, Franklin, 16:27.48 (Southlake, 8/28).

20, Jacob Becket, Eastwood, 16:29.15 (Del Valle, 8/28).

21, Julian Maldonado, Burges, 16:30.94 (Del Valle, 8/28).

22, Seth Truax, Chapin, 16:34.44 (Del Valle, 8/28).

23, Preston Arnett, Cathedral, 16:40.42 (Del Valle, 8/28).

24, Angel Torres, Tornillo, 16:43.28 (Tornillo, 8/21).

25, Alexander Flores, Eastwood, 16:46.03 (Del Valle, 8/28).

Julian Maldonado has been the top runner for Burges. He turned in a 16:30.94 at Del Valle, the 21st fastest time in the city.

Power rankings
(number parenthesis indicate meets won):

1, Luis Pastor, Coronado, 35 (1).

2, Jared Laverty, Americas, 30 (3).

3, Omer Ibrahim, Pebble Hills, 25 (2).

4, Chris Moreno, San Elizario, 24 (1).

5, Isaac Mendoza, Eastwood, 22.

6, Andres Gurrola, Eastwood, 21.

7, Alejandro Tarin, Hanks, 19.

8, Carmelo Corral, Americas, 18.

8, Israel David, Eastlake, 18.

10, Andrew Valdiviezo, Riverside, 16.

Aaron Saenz, Americas, 13.

Devon Paez, Eastwood, 11.

Daniel Romero, Tornillo, 11.

Gael Alvarado, Hanks, 11.

Diego Flores, Franklin, 10.

Omar Rivera, Canutillo, 9.

Israel Quintana, Immanuel, 8.

Seth Truax, Chapin, 8.

David Ramirez, EPHS, 8.

Joaquin Chavez, Eastwood, 7.

Angel Torres, Tornillo, 6.

Denovan Estrada, Franklin, 5.

Julian Maldonado, Burges, 5.

Leo Valenzuela, EPHS, 5.

Irvin Vazquez, San Elizario, 5.

Anthony Casillas, Eastwood, 4.

Austen Percifull, Franklin, 4.

Jayden Bustillos, Riverside, 4.

Rai Lopez, Franklin, 4.

Aydan Lugo, EPHS, 4.

Preston Arnett, Cathedral, 3.

Matthew Maese, San Elizario, 3.

Antonio Palos, Irvin, 3.

Alexander Flores, Eastwood, 2.

Victor Anchondo, Eastwood, 2.

Luis Martinez, Irvin, 2.

Alan Ceballos, San Elizario, 2.

Matthew Marshall, Eastwood, 1.