High School Boy’s XC Poll: Week 8

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

Chapin Invitational: 8 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 9 at Don Haskins Recreation Center. Franklin, Irvin, Andress, Jefferson, Chapin, Montwood, El Dorado, Eastlake, Santa Teresa, Tornillo, Loretto, San Elizario, Harmony, Cathedral, Anthony, Canutillo.

Top 10

1. Eastwood: After two consecutive weeks of competitive out-of-town races, the Troopers did not run Saturday. The team is preparing for the District 1-6A championship Oct. 16 at Vista Hills Country Club. However, the JV team placed third at the Dale Reinhardt Invitational at Socorro’s Student Activities Complex. Matthew Marshal finished fourth in 17:15.78.

2. Americas: The Trailblazers placed fourth in the “elite” division at Nike South in The Woodlands.  Seniors Jared Laverty (eighth, 14:02.7) and Carmelo Corral (17^th, 14:07.8) finished in the top 20. Americas will rest its varsity on Saturday as the team prepares for the District 1-6A championship Oct. 16 at Vista Hills Country Club.

3. Franklin: The Cougars ran away with the Dale Reinhardt Invitational at Socorro’s Student Activities Complex with 27 points. Franklin runners claimed six of the top 10 spots including Diego Flores (second, 16:49.48), Matthew Engle (third, 17:11.53), Rai Lopez (sixth, 17:17.84), Austen Percifull (seventh, 17:20.38), Oscar Guzman (ninth, 17:32.92) and Juan Leal (10th, 17:33.71). Franklin will not race on Saturday as the team prepares for the District 1-6A championship Oct. 16 at Vista Hills Country Club.

4. Coronado: The T-Birds scored 50 points and finished second at the Dale Reinhardt Invitational at the SAC. Junior Luis Pastor picked up his third individual title finishing 16:15.52. Sophomore Carlos Mendez was fifth in 17:16.25 and junior Sam Flores, was eighth in 17:31.43. Coronado will not compete at the Dale Reinhardt Inviteon Saturday. Coronado will not race on Saturday as the team prepares for the District 1-6A championship Oct. 16 at Vista Hills Country Club.

5. San Elizario: The Eagles, who were without its top runner Chris Moreno, finished third at the Clint/Fabens Invitational at Clint High School with 78 points. Two runners – brothers Matthew Maese (fifth, 16:28.43) and Angel Maese (eighth, 16:35.33) – finished in the top 10. San Elizario will prepare to defend its District 1-4A title on Oct. 16 at Vista Hills Country Club.

6. Cathedral:  The Irish won the Clint/Fabens Invitational at Clint with 50 points. Sophomore Preston Arnett led a trio of Cathedral runners who finished in the top 10, placing fourth in 16:15.52. Brothers Jacob Noble (ninth, 16:35.69) Elijah Noble (10th, 16:36.19) also finished in the top 10.

7. Riverside: The Rangers move up one spot after finishing second at the Clint/Fabens Invitational with 72 points. Riverside had two seniors – Andrew Valdiviezo (second, 15:44.47) and Jayden Bustillos (seventh, 16:33.38) finish in the top 10. The Rangers will prepare for District 1-4A championship Oct. 16 at Vista Hills Country Club.

8. Pebble Hills: The Spartans drop one after finishing 17^th in the “elite” division at Nike South in The Woodlands. Junior Omer Ibrahim picked up his city-best fifth individual title of the season finishing the 2.8 mile course in 13:44.8. Pebble Hills will not race on Saturday as the team prepares for the District 1-6A championship at Vista Hills Country Club on Oct. 16.

9. Hanks: The Knights did not race on Saturday. The team will resume racing at the District 2-5A Championship on Oct. 16 at Vista Hills Country Club.

10. El Paso: On the brink the entire season, the Tigers finally break into the top 10 with its fourth-place finish at the Clint/Fabens Invitational. David Ramirez was the top runner for El Paso, finishing 18^th in 17:07.7. El Paso will now prepare for the District 1-5A Championship on Oct. 16 at Vista Hills Country Club.

Dropped out: Burges.

On the brink: Chapin.

Top times (3 mile or 5K)

1, Andres Gurrola, Eastwood, 14.43.8 (Woodbridge, 9/18).

2, Isaac Mendoza, Eastwood, 14.49.7 (Woodbridge, 9/18).

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

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

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

6, Devon Paez, Eastwood, 15:13.6 (Woodbridge, 9/18).

7, Victor Anchondo, Eastwood, 15:16.8 (Woodbridge, 9/18)

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

9, Joaquin Chavez, Eastwood, 15:28.0 (Woodbridge, 9/18).

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

11, Angel Torres, Tornillo, 15:41.47 (Clint, 10/2).

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

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

14, Andrew Valdiviezo, Riverside, 15:44.47 (Clint, 10/2).

15, Jacob Becket, Eastwood, 15:44.8 (Woodbridge, 9/18).

16, Diego Flores, Franklin, 15:51.32 (Mary Francis Keisling, 9/11).

17, Anthony Casillas, Eastwood, 15:52.3 (Woodbridge, 9/18).

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

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

20, Preston Arnett, Cathedral, 16:15.52 (Clint, 10/2).

21, Austen Percifull, Franklin, 16:16.35 (Mary Francis Keisling, 9/11).

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

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

24, Jayden Bustillos, Riverside, 16:25.30 (Desert Twilight, 9/24).

25, Matthew Maese, San Elizario, 16:28.43 (Clint, 10/2).

Power rankings
(number parenthesis indicate meets won):

1, Luis Pastor, Coronado, 64 (3).

2, Omer Ibrahim, Pebble Hills, 55 (5).

3, Jared Laverty, Americas, 51 (4).

4, Alejandro Tarin, Hanks, 43.

5, Chris Moreno, San Elizario, 37 (1).

5, Diego Flores, Franklin, 37 (1).

7, Carmelo Corral, Americas, 34.

8, Angel Torres, Tornillo, 33 (2).

9, Andrew Valdiviezo, Riverside, 29.

10, Gael Alvarado, Hanks, 27.

10, Daniel Romero, Tornillo, 27.

Israel David, Eastlake, 25.

Isaac Mendoza, Eastwood, 22.

Andres Gurrola, Eastwood, 22.

Austen Percifull, Franklin, 20.

Aaron Saenz, Americas, 19.

Jayden Bustillos, Riverside, 16.

Preston Arnett, Cathedral, 15.

Devon Paez, Eastwood, 11.

Seth Truax, Chapin, 11.

Omar Rivera, Canutillo, 9.

Rai Lopez, Franklin, 9.

Matthew Maese, San Elizario, 9.

Israel Quintana, Immanuel, 8.

David Ramirez, El Paso High, 8.

Matthew Engle, Franklin, 8.

Matthew Marshall, Eastwood, 8.

Irvin Vazquez, San Elizario, 8.

Joaquin Chavez, Eastwood, 7.

Julian Maldonado, Burges, 7.

Frank Lozano, Franklin, 7.

Sam Breceda, Coronado, 6.

Carlos Mendez, Coronado, 6.

Oscar Guzman, Franklin, 6.

Denovan Estrada, Franklin, 5.

Leo Valenzuela, El Paso High, 5.

Mario Elias, Eastlake, 5.

Sam Flores, Coronado, 5.

David Herrera, Burges, 5.

Anthony Casillas, Eastwood, 4.

Aydan Lugo, El Paso High, 4.

Bryan Estrada, Eastlake, 3.

Antonio Palos, Irvin, 3.

Angel Maese, San Elizario, 3.

Alexander Flores, Eastwood, 2.

Victor Anchondo, Eastwood, 2.

Sebastian Gonzalez, Franklin, 2.

Bernard Martinez, Cathedral, 2.

Juan Leal, Franklin, 2.

Luis Martinez, Irvin, 2.

Alan Ceballos, San Elizario, 2.

Heiden Pereda, Eastwood, 2.

Jacob Noble, Cathedral, 2.

Isaac Romero, Franklin, 1.

Jesse Morales, Americas, 1.

Mauricio Cuartes, Eastwood, 1.

Elijah Noble, Cathedral, 1.