Day: August 15, 2024

High School Boy’s Cross Country Poll: Week 1

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 boys race times and the meets and dates that they occurred.

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

This week’s schedule

Franklin Invitational: 8 a.m.,Mary Frances Keisling Park.  Franklin, Chapin, Irvin, Bowie, Eastlake, Hanks, Horizon, Loretto, Anthony, Immanuel, Harmony, LPI, YWLA, Radford.

Canutillo Invitational: 8 a.m., Canutillo Middle School.  Coronado, Burges, Jefferson, Austin, Canutillo, Bel Air, Eastwood, Del Valle, Mt View, Parkland, Clint, Socorro, Montwood, El Dorado, Americas, Ft Hancock, San Elizario, Cathedral, Pebble Hills, El Paso.

The boys cross country season begin last week. This week, the focus is on Saturday’s Franklin and Canutillo invitationals.

Top 10

1. Eastwood: The Troopers ended last season placing eighth in Class 6A at the UIL State Championship. All State runner Danny Torres returns for his senior year after finishing fifth at state.  Expectations are high again as the team is ranked No. 5 in Texas. The team is fresh off a first-place finish at the 2.8 mile Del Valle’s Midnight Madness run where Torres took first place honors in 13:20.92. Trooper runners took six of the top 10 spots including sophomore Noah Loweree (second, 14:33.53), senior Marcos Madrid (third, 14:35.32), senior Luke Cruz (fifth, 14:48.09) junior Job DeSantos (sixth, 15:08.62) and sophomore Elias Alcocer (tenth, 15:12.54). Eastwood is schedule to race at the Canutillo Invitational on Saturday.

2. Franklin: The Cougars are coming off their second straight state appearance, finishing tenth. Franklin lost five solid seniors and are in rebuilding mode with only a pair of juniors returning – Jacob Martinez and Sebastian Mendez. Franklin’s season begins Saturday at Mary Frances Keisling Park.

3. El Paso High: The Tigers finished eighth at state in Class 5A and might be stronger this year. The Tigers are led by three seniors, All State runner Miles Westbrook, Lorenzo Shields and Ulysses O’Rourke. The team won the Andress Invitational at Veterans Park placing four runners in the top seven. Westbrook and O’Rourke were one-two in 15:24.07 and 16:47.24. Senior Andrew Hernandez was sixth in 18:18.31 and junior David Luchenbill was seventh in 18:30.43. El Paso is schedule to race at the Canutillo Invitational on Saturday.   

4. Pebble Hills: The Spartans are primed for a solid season. The team placed six runners in the top 10 at its own invitational at Biggs Field. Senior Ameen Ibrahim was second in 16.40.61, Andrew Truax was third in 16.44.11, senior Jorge Soto was fourth in 16.53.92, junior Erick Gutierrez was seventh in 17.12.77, sophomore Adrian Cisneros was eighth in 17.17.33 and junior Gavin Cottle was ninth in 17.18.67. The team is schedule to race at the Canutillo Invitational on Saturday.

5. Coronado: The T-Birds could be the surprise team of the season. The team placed three runners in the top 8 at the Del Valle Midnight Madness run and finished second.  Junior Humberto Serna was fourth in 14:41.48, Max Sandhu was seventh in 15:10.04 and junior Rodrigo Pinales was eighth in 15:11.59. The 205-runner race was 2.8 miles. The T-Birds will race at the Canutillo Invitational at Canutillo Middle School on Saturday.

6. San Elizario: The Eagles finished fourth in Class 4A at the State Championship, 11 points shy of a bronze medal. The Eagles, which are state ranked at No. 5, graduated three of its top five and are looking to fill those spots. San Eli placed three runners in the top 18 at the Del Valle Midnight Madness and finished third. Leading the way was junior Antonio Arreola who was ninth on the 2.8-mile course in 15:12.03 followed by sophomore Angel Boccanegra (13th, 15:20.44) and junior Alexander Cano (18th, 15:37.70). The team will race at the Canutillo Invitational on Saturday.

7. Burges: The Mustangs have a solid core of runners including seniors Jacob Yeager, Malin Arnoldussen, Jesus Gastelum-Bustamante and Carlos Chavez. The team had three runners in the top 11 at the Pebble Hills Invitational at Biggs Field. Yeager was sixth in 17.07.24, Arnoldussen was tenth in 17.33.17 and Chavez was 11th in 17.44.92. Burges will compete at the Canutillo Invitational on Saturday.

8. Austin: The Panthers return many of the runners that earned them a District 1-4A championship last fall including individual district champion, senior Pedro Jimenez. Austin got off to a fast start to the season, placing five runners in the top 10 at the Andress Invitational at Veterans Park. Jimenez was third in 17:05.46 followed by junior runners Eirik Arredondo    (fourth, 18:03.62), Luis Pereda (fifth, 18:04.72), Omar Mesta (ninth, 19:15.66) and senior Edgar Rodriguez (tenth, 19:24.33). Austin will race at the Canutillo Invitational on Saturday.

9. Americas: The Trailblazers have one of the city’s top runners in senior Diego Romero. The drop to District 2-5A will help Americas on their journey back to regionals but that will depend on the development of returning runners senior Max Messsina, junior Miguel Galvan and sophomore Austin Garza. Romero did well, winning the first race of the year, racing to a 16.09.27 at the Pebble Hills Invitational at Biggs Field. The team will run at the Canutillo Invitational on Saturday.

10. Eastlake: The Falconsa team on the rise. The team had five runners in the top 20 at the Andress Invitational at Veterans Park. Sophomore Caleb Beardon finished 12th in 17.48.82 while junior Diego  Romero-Alvarado was 15ht in 17.59.86. Other top 20 runners were sophomore Sean Jurado (18th, 18.09.14), junior Oscar Ponce (19th, 18.23.64) and sophomore Sebastian  Flores (20th, 18.24.36). Eastlake will compete at the Franklin Invitational at Mary Frances Keisling Park on Saturday.

Dropped out: None.

On the brink: Chapin, Hanks.

Americas senior Diego Romero quest to a return visit to state began with a win at the Pebble Hills Invitational.

Top 25 times (3 mile or 5K)

1, Miles Westbrook, El Paso, 15:24.07 (Veterans Park, 8/10). 

2, Diego Romero, Americas, 16.09.27 (Biggs Field, 8/10).

3, Ameen Ibrahim, Pebble Hills, 16.40.61 (Biggs Field, 8/10).

4, Andrew Truax, Pebble Hills, 16.44.11 (Biggs Field, 8/10).

5, Ulysses O’Rourke, El Paso, 16:47.24  (Veterans Park, 8/10).

6, Jorge Soto, Pebble Hills, 16.53.92 (Biggs Field, 8/10).

7, Braulio Torres, Chapin, 17.04.89 (Biggs Field, 8/10).

8, Pedro Jimenez, Austin, 17:05.46 (Veterans Park, 8/10).

9, Jacob Yeagr, Burges, 17.07.24 (Biggs Field, 8/10).

10, Erick Gutierrez, Pebble Hills, 17.12.77 (Biggs Field, 8/10).

11, Adrian Cisneros, Pebble Hills, 17.17.33 (Biggs Field, 8/10).

12, Gavin Cottle, Pebble Hills, 17.18.67 (Biggs Field, 8/10).

13, Malin Arnoldussen, Burges, 17.33.17 (Biggs Field, 8/10).

14, Carlos Chavez, Burges, 17.44.92 (Biggs Field, 8/10).

15, Caleb Beardon, Eastlake, 17.48.82  (Biggs Field, 8/10).

16, Anthony Yon , Pebble Hills, 17.53.45 (Biggs Field, 8/10).   

17, Austin Garza, Americas, 17.55.55 (Biggs Field, 8/10).

18, Diego Romero, Eastlake, 17.59.86   (Biggs Field, 8/10).

19, Pablo Corral, Pebble Hills, 18.01.1 (Biggs Field, 8/10).

20, Eirik Arredondo, Austin, 18:03.62   (Veterans Park, 8/10).

21. Luis Pereda, Austin, 18:04.72 (Veterans Park, 8/10).        

22, Isais Gaytan, Burges, 18.07.70 (Veterans Park, 8/10).       

23, Sean Jurado, Eastalke, 18.09.14 (Biggs Field, 8/10).

24, Andrew Hernandez, El Paso,   18:18.31 (Veterans Park, 8/10).  

25, Oscar Ponce, Eastalke, 18.23.64 (Biggs Field, 8/10).

Pebble Hills senior Ameen Ibrahim hopes to have an injury-free season. He finished second at the Pebble Hills Invitational at Biggs Field.

Power Rankings

1, Danny Torres, Eastwood, 20 (1).

2, Noah Loweree, Eastwood, 19.

3, Marcos Madrid, Eastwood, 18.

4, Humberto Serna, Eastwood, 17.

5, Luke Cruz, Eastwood, 16.

6, Job DeSantos, Eastwood, 15.

7, Max Sandhu, Coronado, 14.

8, Rodrigo Pinales, Coronado, 13.

9, Antonio Arreola, San Elizario, 12.

10, Elias Alcocer, Eastwood, 11.

Miles Westbrook, El Paso, 10 (1).

Diego Romero, Americas, 10 (1).

Jonah Herd Jr., Eastwood, 10.

Ameen Ibrahim, Pebble Hills, 9.

Mateo Diaz, Hanks, 9.

 Ulysses O’Rourke, El Paso, 9.

Andrew Truax, Pebble Hills, 8.

Pedro Jimenez, Austin, 8.

Angel Boccanegra, San Elizario, 8.

Adrian Chavez, Eastwood, 7.

Jorge Soto, Pebble Hills, 7.

Eirik Arredondo, Austin, 7.

Luis Pereda, Austin, 6.

Braulio Torres, Chapin, 6.

Jorge Mendez, Socorro, 6.

Zerach Hernandez, Hanks, 5.

Jacob Yeagr, Burges, 5.

Andrew Hernandez, El Paso, 5.

Nathan Arreola, Eastwood, 4.

David Luchenbill, El Paso, 4.

Erick Gutierrez, Pebble Hills, 4.

Alexander Cano, San Elizario, 3.

Aiden Aguirre, Canutillo, 3.

Adrian Cisneros, Pebble Hills, 3.

Jordan Diaz, Del Valle, 2.

Omar Mesta, Austin, 2.

Gavin Cottle, Pebble Hills, 2.

Malin Arnoldusse, Burges, 1.

Edgar Rodriguez, Austin, 1.

Jordan Gonzalez, Coronado, 1.