High School Boy’s Cross Country Poll: Week 2

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

Eastwood Stars & Strides Invitational: 7 p.m., Aug. 22 at Eastside Sports Complex. Alamogordo, Andress, Anthony, Austin, Bel Air, Bowie, Burges, Canutillo, Cathedral, Centennial, Chapin, Clint, Coronado, Del Valles, Di Vinci, Eagle Pass, Eastlake, Eastwood, El Dorado, El Paso, Fabens, Fort Hancock, Franklin, Grapevine, Hanks, Harmony, Horizon, Immanuel, Irvin, Jefferson, Loretto, Los Alamos, Lydia Patterson, Montwood, Mountain View, Organ Mt., Parkland, Riverside, San Elizario, Socorro, Tornillo, Valle Verde, Ysleta, YWLA.

Macen Holderman Invitational: 8 a.m., Aug. 23 at Rio Rancho, N.M. Andress, Eastlake, Pebble Hills, Montwood, Americas.

The boys season has going to be an exciting one. On Friday, 8 of the top 10 teams will compete at Eastwood’s Stars and Stripes Invitational.

Top 10

1. Eastwood: The Troopers easily won the Canutillo Invitational at the fast, flat course at Canutillo Middle School with 25 points. Eastwood had four runners in the top six including individual winner junior Noah Loweree (15:08.89). Senior Job DeSantos was second in 15:25.05, junior Elias Alcocer was fourth in 15:32.60 and sophomore Jacob Lara was sixth in15:38.09. Eastwood will race Friday night at the Stars & Strides Invitational at the Eastside Sports Complex.

2. Franklin: The Cougars began its season finishing second at the Canutillo Invitational with 60 points. Franklin had three runners in the top 10 — senior Sebastian Mendez was seventh in 15:45.09, senior Fransisco Medina was ninth in 15:48.40 and freshman Michael Villa was tenth in 15:48.66. Franklin will race Friday night at the Stars & Strides Invitational at the Eastside Sports Complex.

3. Coronado: The T-Birds move up two spots after its third-place finish at Canutillo with 84 points. Coronado’s top runner was senior Humberto Serna who was third in 15:28.39. Coronado will race Friday night at the Stars & Strides Invitational at the Eastside Sports Complex.

4. Pebble Hills: The Spartans drop a spot after placing fourth at Canutillo with 94 points. It’s top two runners were junior Erick Gutierrez (14th, 16:04.73) and sophomore Adrian Cisneros Rodriguez who was 15th in 16:05.88. The team will race at the Macen Holderman Invitational Saturday in Rio Rancho, N.M.

5. San Elizario: The Eagles were fifth at Canutillo with 133 points and drop a spot. Senior Antonio Arreola finished eighth in 15:45.90. They too will race Friday night at the Stars & Strides Invitational at the Eastside Sports Complex.

6. Austin: The Panthers did not run a full team at Canutillo, however, senior Eirik Arredondo had a top 20 finish, placing 18th in 16:19.81. The team will race Friday night at the Eastside Sports Complex.

7. El Paso High: The Tigers move up a spot after placing sixth at the competitive Canutillo Invitational with 147 points. Sophomore Andrew Truax was the team’s top runner, placing fifth in 15:37.99. El Paso High will compete aat the Stars & Strides Invitational at the Eastside Sports Complex.

8. Socorro: The Bulldogs make its debut into the top 10 after winning the Fabens Invitational with 24 points. Socorro had four runners in the top 10 including the top three spots. Jorge Mendez won the event in 16:26.79, followed by Andrew Granillo (17:04.39) and Uziel Holguin (17:08.29). Sophomore Jose Chavez was tenth in 17:47.01. Socorro will race Friday night at the Stars & Strides Invitational at the Eastside Sports Complex

9. Hanks: The Knights drop two spots, finishing second at the Fabens Invitational with 47 points. Hanks had two runners in the top eight — senior Darian Hernandez was fourth in 17:18.12 and sophomore Mateo Diaz was eighth in 17:45.14. Hanks will race Friday night at the Stars & Strides Invitational at the Eastside Sports Complex.

10. Eastlake: The Falcons did not race last week. The team will compete at the Macen Holderman Invitational Saturday in Rio Rancho, N.M.

10. Montwood: The Ramsfinished seventh at the Canutillo Invitational. Its top runner was senior Ian Escobedo (42nd, 17:46.40). Montwood will race at the Macen Holderman Invitational Saturday in Rio Rancho, N.M.

Dropped out: None.

On the brink: Americas.

Eastwood’s Noah Loweree has the city’s fastest time, clocking a 15:08.89 at Canutillo Middle School.

Top 25 times (3 mile or 5K)

1, Noah Loweree, Eastwood, 15:08.89 (Canutillo Middle, 8/16).

2, Job DeSantos, Eastwood, 15:25.05 (Canutillo Middle, 8/16).

3, Humberto Serna, Coronado, 15:28.39 (Canutillo Middle, 8/16).

4, Elias Alcocer, Eastwood, 15:32.60 (Canutillo Middle, 8/16).

5, Andrew Truax, El Paso High, 15:37.99 (Canutillo Middle, 8/16).

6, Jacob Lara, Eastwood, 15:38.09 (Canutillo Middle, 8/16).

7, Sebastian Mendez, Franklin, 15:45.09 (Canutillo Middle, 8/16).

8, Antonio Arreola, San Elizario, 15:45.90 (Canutillo Middle, 8/16).

9, Fransisco Medina, Franklin, 15:48.40 (Canutillo Middle, 8/16).

10, Michael Villa, Franklin, 15:48.66 (Canutillo Middle, 8/16).

11, Rodrigo Pinales, Coronado, 15:51.39 (Canutillo Middle, 8/16).

12, Jaiden Melchor, Eastwood, 15:59.77 (Canutillo Middle, 8/16).

13, Jacob Martinez, Franklin, 16:00.50 (Canutillo Middle, 8/16).

14, Erick Gutierrez, Pebble Hills, 16:48.63 (Canutillo Middle, 8/16).

15, Adrian Cisneros Rodriguez, Pebble Hills, 16:05.88 (Canutillo Middle, 8/16).

16, Evan Chacon, Eastwood, 16:07.54 (Canutillo Middle, 8/16).

17, Jonah Herd Jr., Eastwood, 16:12.40 (Canutillo Middle, 8/16).

18, Eirik Arredondo, Austin, 16:19.81 (Canutillo Middle, 8/16).

19, Sebastian Leyva, Coronado, 16:19.92 (Canutillo Middle, 8/16).

20, Anthony Yon, Pebble Hills, 16:25.78 (Canutillo Middle, 8/16).

21, Luis Pereda, Austin, 16:26.00 (Canutillo Middle, 8/16).

22, Jorge Mendez, Socorro, 16:26.79 (Fabens, 8/16).

23, Gavin Cottle, Pebble Hills High, 16:34.68 (Canutillo Middle, 8/16).

24, Noah Garcia, Eastwood, 16:35.81 (Del Valle, 8/8).

25, Richard Mendoza, Franklin 16:35.86 (Canutillo Middle, 8/16).

The Canutillo Invitational produces some fast times last week as runners took advance of a flat course with no turns and perfect weather conditions.

Power Rankings

1, Noah Loweree, Eastwood, 30 (2).

2, Job DeSantos, Eastwood, 28.

3, Elias Alcocer, Eastwood, 25.

4, Jacob Lara, Eastwood, 21.

5, Antonio Arreola, San Elizario, 20.

6, Noah Garcia, Eastwood, 15.

6, Jorge Mendez, Socorro, 15 (1).

8, Jonah Herd Jr., Eastwood, 14.

9, Evan Chacon, Eastwood, 13.

9, Darian Hernandez, Hanks, 13.

Jaiden Melchor, Eastwood, 12.

Andrew Truax, El Paso High, 12.

Mateo Diaz, Hanks, 12.

Ayden Betancourt, Eastwood, 11.

Eirik Gutierrez, Pebble Hills, 10 (1).

Caleb Bearden, Eastlake, 10.

Andrew Granillo, Socorro, 9.

Adrian Cisneros Rodriguez, Pebble Hills, 9.

Julian Franco, Montwood, 8.

Erick Arredondo, Austin, 8.

Humberto Serna, Coronado, 8.

Uziel Holguin, Socorro, 8.

Adam Nunez, Eastwood, 7.

Anthony Yon, Pebble Hills, 7.

David Retana, Harmony Science Academy, 7.

Jesse Ortiz, Fabens, 6.

Angel Bocanegra, San Elizario, 5.

Eli Urquidi, Bel Air, 5.

Luis Pereda, Austin, 4.

Daniel Maese, San Elizario, 4.

Sebastian Mendez, Franklin, 4.

Eduardo Cardenas, El Paso High, 3.

Zerach Hernandez, Hanks, 2.

Gavin Cottle, Pebble Hills, 2.

Fransisco Medina, Franklin, 2.

Andres Vega, Burges, 2.

Lorenzo Espino, Eastwood, 1.

Christian Morales, Pebble Hills, 1.

Michael Villa, Franklin, 1.

Jose Chavez, Socorro, 1

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Author: Victor R. Martinez

My love of running began with my son Deric. His passion and talent for distance running opened my eyes to a sport I never imaged I would embrace with such enthusiasm. As a journalist at the El Paso Times, I was the lead writer for cross country and track for several years and I was able to tell the stories of these amazing unsung athletes. Never a runner myself, I decided to change that when I turned 50 in 2016 when I trained for my first 5K. I've been running ever since and I love every minute of it - well - sort of.

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