On this blog you will find weekly profiles on runners of all levels and ages, top 10 high school cross country boys and girls teams along with the top 25 times. You will be able to find schedules and results for high school cross country and track, the USA Track & Field Border Association meets and the many road races in El Paso.
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.
Diego Flores was third at last week’s Troopers Twilight pacing the Cougars to a team win. Coronado’s Luis Pastor won the event.
The most surprising thing that happened at the Trooper Twilight Invitational at Eastside Sports Complex is what didn’t happen.
For the first time in 11 years, the Eastwood boy’s cross country team did not win a local race.
The upstart Franklin Cougars won the event by placing four runners in the top eight with a team average 16:47.84 42.
“It feels great to beat No. 1 but it only matters when the most important race comes,” said Diego Flores who was third in 16:24.05. “We can win every race leading up to districts but if we lose there, that’s it. Franklin has never won a district title so that’s our goal. We are going to continue working until we reach that goal. After that we’ll take everything step by step.”
Franklin scored 42 points, 19 points better than the field. Eastwood was second with 61 points and Coronado was third with 71 points.
Eastwood’s team average was 17:00.74 and Coronado’s was 17:02.61.
Coronado’s Luis Pastor won in 15:56.36 followed by Daniel Romero from Tornillo (16:20.50), Flores, Matthew Engle from Franklin, (16:33.91), San Elizario’s Chris Moreno (16:34.80), Eastwood’s Alexander Flores (16:40.30) a pair of Franklin runners Denovan Estrada, 16:41.21) and Juan Leal (16:47.00), Tornillo’s Angel Torres (16:51.54) and Julian Guerra from San Elizario (16:54.40) round out the top 10.
“The season has been a bit challenging individually,” said Flores, a senior. “But it’s been fun; I love the fight our guys have. I love the sport because it shows how much fight you have in you; how bad you want it.”
He said this season has been the best since he has been at Franklin.
“Our team has grown so much,” he said. “We are brothers now. We are genuinely family. I love when our team strives. We have two other top runners – Matthew and Denovan, when they get up there, it makes me want to push harder. This season has been amazing so far.”
Franklin finished fourth at the Southlake Carroll Invitational last week.
“We fought the best teams in Texas,” he said. “I loved the competition there. It changed our mentality; it showed how tough we are. We worked hard as a team. It showed that if we can compete at that level, we could compete with anyone.”
This week’s Cross Country Coaches Association of Texas poll has Franklin ranked No. 6 and Eastwood No. 8 in Class 6A.
Daniel Romero was second at the Trooper Twilight.
Tornillo’s Romero has also performed well this season, finishing second at the Trooper Twilight.
“That was a great race, with a lot of competition,” Romero said. “I had to push myself the entire race. My arms got tired at the end, so I had to open up my stride and extend my legs more in the final stage of the race.”
The Class 3A Cotton Valley school finished a respectable sixth with a team average of 18:34.02.
The team just broke into the Cross Country Coaches Association of Texas poll at No. 6 in Class 3A.
“The season is going very well, hopefully we can make it back to state as a team,” he said. “We’re working with a few new members and every meet they are getting stronger. I try to motivate them and push through their pain, even when it gets hard, I tell them to give it their best.”
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.
Trooper Twilight Invitational: 6 p.m., Friday, Sept. 2 at Eastside Sports Complex. Franklin, Coronado, Irvin, Burges, Jefferson, El Paso, Eastwood, Socorro, El Dorado, San Eli, Bel Air, Hanks, Riverside, Anthony, Ft Hancock, Cathedral, Loretto.
The Rudy Alvarez Invitational at Del Valle High School proved to be a challenging course.
Top 10
1. Eastwood: The Troopers won the Rudy Alvarez Invitational at Del Valle with 29 points. The Troopers had four in the top seven. Alex Flores was third in 16:24.18, Matthew Marshall was fifth in 16:50.51, Anthony Casillas was sixth in 16:56.74 and Leo Espino was seventh in 16:57.45. The team will race at its own invitational on Friday night at the Eastside Sports Complex.
2. Franklin: The Cougars were fourth at the Southlake Carroll Invitational. Franklin had three runners in the top 20 – senior Diego Flores (14th, 15:26.04), senior Denovan Estrada (17th, 15:29.44) and junior Matthew Engle (20th, 15:32.31). There were 40 teams and 339 runners in the Elite Division. Franklin will race at the Trooper Twilight Invitational on Friday night.
3. Coronado: The T-Birds finished second at the Cleveland Invitational in Albuquerque with 58 points, eight behind Volcano Vista and three points ahead of Rio Rancho. Senior Luis Pastor was second in 15:51.5. Three other T-Birds had top 20 finishes – junior Edgar Valles (sixth, 16:45.7), Preston Eastman (13th, 17:05.5) and Carlos Mendez (18th, 17:22.5). The team will race at the Troopers Twilight on Friday night.
4. Pebble Hills: The Spartans finished a distance second at the Rudy Alvarez scoring 91 points. Pebble Hills had two runners in the top 20 – senior Noah Castorena (13th, 17:31.43) and senior Omer Ibrahim (20th, 17:53.58) who is still nursing a minor injury. The Spartans will race at its own invitational Friday morning at Blackie Chesher Park.
5. San Elizario: The Eagles were third at Del Valle. Senior Chris Moreno won his third consecutive individual crown in 16:19.62. San Elizario’s No. 2 man, junior Julian Guerra, did not race. Matthew Maese was 18th in 17:49.61. The team will race at the Trooper Twilight Friday night.
6. El Paso High: The Tigers hold steady at six after seven of its runners finished in the top 8 including the top four to win the Gadsden Invitational with 16 points. Sophomore Miles Westbrook won the event in 17:19.59. Junior Leo Valenzuela was second in 17:30.65, junior Aydan Lugo was third in 17:54.45, sophomore Ulysses O’Rourke was fourth in 17:57.31, sophomore Andrew Hernandez was sixth in 18:51.30, junior Joaquin Moya was seventh in 19:00.20 and sophomore Lorenzo Shields was eighth in 19:01.72. El Paso will race at the Trooper Twilight Invitational on Friday night.
7. Cathedral: The Irish did not race a full team at the Rudy Alvarez Invitational at Del Valle. Its top runner was Jacob Noble who was 26th in 18:12.41. Cathedral will race at the Trooper Twilight Invitational on Friday night.
8. Tornillo: Tornillo did not run a full team at Del Valle on Saturday. Junior Daniel Romero was second in 16:19.98 and senior Angel Torres was 19th in 17:51.35. The team will race at the Trooper Twilight Invitational Friday night.
9. Chapin: The Huskies return to the top 10 after finishing fourth at Del Valle. Junior Seth Truax was 11th in 17:30.52 and sophomore Braulio Torres was 12th in 17:30.66. Chapin will race Friday morning at Blackie Chesher Park.
10. Americas: The Trailblazers are hanging around and holding out hope for improvement as the season continues. Junior Jacob Corral was the top runner (30th, 18:22.25) at Del Valle. Americas will race at the Pebble Hills Invitational on Friday morning.
Dropped out: Hanks.
On the brink: Parkland, Bel Air.
Hanks senior Alejandro Tarin has the eighth fastest time posting a 16:22.89 at Mary Keisling Park.
Top times (3 mile or 5K)
1, Diego Flores, Franklin, 15:26.04 (Southlake Carroll, 8/27).
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.
Trooper Twilight Invitational: 6 p.m., Friday, Sept. 2 at Eastside Sports Complex. Franklin, Coronado, Irvin, Burges, Jefferson, El Paso, Eastwood, Socorro, El Dorado, San Eli, Bel Air, Hanks, Riverside, Anthony, Ft Hancock, Cathedral, Loretto.
Top 10
1. Franklin: The Cougars finished third at the 26-team, 223-runner Southlake Carroll Invitational. Franklin’s 1-5 split was 38 seconds. Freshman Abigail Pinon was the top Cougars runner, racing to a personal best 18:58.19, placing 29th. Senior Alyssa Laspada was two spots behind in 18:58.74. Franklin will compete at the Trooper Twilight Invitational Friday at the Eastside Sports Complex.
2. Eastwood: The Troopers top runner sophomore Adelynn Rodriguez did not race the Rudy Alvarez Invitational at Del Valle High School on Saturday but Eastwood still managed a second-place finish with 59 points. Its only top 10 finisher was senior Salma Licon who finished ninth in 21:13.74. Eastwood will race at its own invitational Friday night at the Eastside Sports Complex.
3. Montwood: The Rams did not run a full team at the Del Valle Invitational. Senior Kassandra Jimenez won her first event of the year in 19:42.10. The team will race at the Pebble Hills Invitational Friday morning at Blackie Chesher Park.
4. Pebble Hills: The Spartans won the Rudy Alvarez Invitational at Del Valle by placing three runners in the top 10 – senior Natalia Martinez Lopez (second, 19:47.27), junior Natalie Franco (third, 20:35.64) and freshman Aubrey Arsenault (tenth, 21:14.20). Pebble Hills is scheduled to race at its own invitational on Friday morning at Blackie Chesher Park.
5. Eastlake: The Falcons continue to improve and moved up a spot after another third-place finish at the Rudy Alvarez at Del Valle. Eastlake junior Itzel Chavez was sixth in 21:05.24. The team will race at the Pebble Hills Invitational Friday morning at Blackie Chesher Park.
6. El Paso High: The Tigers moved up a spot after sweeping the Gadsden Invitational, placing six runners in the top 10, including the first three spots. Junior Andrea Castillo win in21:26.33, senior Jezarae Valenzuela was second in 22:33.33 and freshman Clarissa Castillo was third in 22:59.43. Other top 10 finishers were junior Sofia Ramirez (fifth, 23:50.29), freshman Calista Sakellakos (ninth, 25:24.78) and senior Aleah Ortiz (tenth, 25:41.06). The Tigers will race at the Trooper Twilight Invitational Friday at the Eastside Sports Complex.
7. Hanks: The Knights have been on the brink all season and they finally cracked the top 10 after its fourth-place finish at Del Valle. Hanks placed two runners in the top 18 – Destinee Loeza (12th, 21:28.93) and Elizabeth Aguirre (18th, 21:47.47). The team will race the Trooper Twilight Invitational Friday at the Eastside Sports Complex.
8. Canutillo: After two consecutive weeks of positive movement up the poll, the Eagles drop three spots after finishing a disappointing seventh at the Rudy Alvarez. Senior Natalie Rivera was fourth in 20:50.20.). Canutillo will race at the Pebble Hills Invitational on Friday morning at Blackie Chesher Park.
9. Coronado: The T-Birds drop a spot after its ninth-place finish at the Cleveland Invitational in Albuquerque. Its top runner was junior Caroline Pitchkolan (31st, 21:41.1). Coronado will try to regroup at the Trooper Twilight Invitational Friday at the Eastside Sports Complex.
10. Chapin: The Huskies make its debut after its sixth-place finish at the Rudy Alvarez at Del Valle. The Huskies had two runners in the top 7 – sophomore Rebecca Duran (fifth, 20:51.12) and senior Gianny Correa (seventh, 21:06.57). The Huskies will race at the Pebble Hills Invitational Friday morning at Blackie Chesher Park.
Dropped out: Burges, Del Valle.
On the brink: Americas.
Chapin senior Gianny Correa and Del Valle senior Valeria Loo-Kung battled to the end at last week’s Rudy Alvarez Invitational.
Chris Moreno picked up his third individual title at the Rudy Alvarez Invitational at Del Valle.
San Elizario senior Chris Moreno, who ended the 2021 season with a Class 4A state silver medal around his neck, has continued his winning ways.
Moreno won his third straight invitational on Saturday at Del Valle High School, holding off Tornillo’s Daniel Romero in the final 100 meters.
Moreno finished in 16:19.62 and Romero in 16:19.98. Eastwood’s Alex Flores was third 16:24.18 followed by Hanks’ Alejandro Tarin (16:46.51) and Eastwood’s Matthew Marshall (16:50.51).
“The first mile and a half I was pacing myself behind Alex and little by little I caught up to him,” Moreno said. “I started to relax and pushing it a little more when Danny came up. I had to have a good kick at the end to win.”
Rounding out the top 10 were Eastwood’s Anthony Casillas (16:56.74) and Leo Espino (16:57.45), Parkland teammates Michael Castorena (eighth, 16:59.44) and Efren Moncada (tenth, 17:27.73) and Immanuel Christian’s Israel Quintana (ninth, 17:13.73).
Moreno said the stiff El Paso competition helps him prepare for what he sees at regionals and state.
“El Paso has a lot of great runners, so we push each other every weekend,” he said. “We all work together to be better runners.”
He is also sticking to the rigid San Elizario training schedule.
“Every week we train harder than the previous week,” he said. “If you train hard, the races will be easier. We’ve been training on hills which gets us stronger, plus we’re doing a lot of distance which should help us in the earlier season. We’ll do more speed work when we get closer to state. Right now, I’m happy with where we’re at.”
Montwood’s Kassandara Jimenez looked strong at Del Valle.
Kassandra Jimenez; Eastwood boy’s cruise
Kassandra Jimenez has had a busy summer.
The Montwood senior is coming off a spectacular summer track season, earning a USATF national championship in the steeplechase, a silver in the 3,000-meter run and a fourth-place finish in the 1,500.
After finishing second at the Canutillo Invitational, Jimenez came back on Saturday to win the Rudy Alvarez Invitational at Del Valle in a season-best 19:42.10.
Pebble Hills’ Natalia Martinez Lopez was second (19:47.27) followed by teammate Natalie Franco (20:35.64), Canutillo’s Natalie Rivera (20:50.20), Chapin’s Rebecca Duran (20:51.12), Eastlake’s Itzel Chavez (21:05.24), Chapin’s Gianny Correa (21:06.57), Del Valle’s Valeria Loo-Kung (21:07.63), Eastwood’s Salma Licon (21:13.74) and Aubrey Arsenault from Pebble Hills (21:14.20).
Jimenez said summer track has helped her prepare for the fall cross country season.
“Summer track helped me with my speed and turnover,” she said. “Since I ran at the national level, the competition really helped me show myself that I can run with some talented girls. I now know when I put my mind to it, I can end a race strong.”
She said she is not fatigued from the long season.
“I have some really good coaches who have trained me well,” she said. “I’m in a really good state physically and mentally. I don’t feel fatigued or that I’m going to peak too early. I feel like I’m right on track.”
Eastwood continued its winning ways at Del Valle.
The Eastwood boys easily won the team title with 29 points, placing four runners in the top seven.
“We’re really a close team,” Flores said. “We all care for each other so when we are racing, we all know that we are out there for each other.”
Flores, who is running his first varsity season, said the team concept is the only way to go.
“Of course, you have to think about yourself too, but you’re doing it for the team,” he said “Half the race is mental and that really helps you push through to the end. The concept of the race is pushing your body to the absolute limit and sure, it terrifies you, but you are doing it for your teammates so that really pushes you when you feel you can’t go on.”
Flores said this year’s team, with only two runners back from a Class 6A state bronze medal team, is well aware of what the expectations are.
“There is pressure, but we welcome it,” he said. “There is a positive that comes with a legacy, knowing the history helps push us through those hard points of the season. We are not only doing it for ourselves, but the guys who came before us.”
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.
The course last week at the Franklin Invitational was muddy and wet.
This week’s schedule
Rudy Alvarez Invitational: 8 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 27 at Del Valle High School. Burges, Jefferson, Andress, Chapin, Del Valle, Pebble Hills, Montwood, Eastlake, Socorro, Americas, San Eli, Ysleta, Bel Air, Hanks, Parkland, VVECH, Eastwood, Ft Hancock, Loretto, Cathedral, Tornillo, Riverside, Canutillo.
Gadsden Invitational: 8 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 27 at Chaparral High School. Irvin, Austin, Bowie, El Paso.
Southlake Carroll Invitational: 8 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 27 at Southlake Carroll High School. Franklin.
Albuquerque Invitational: 8 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 27 in Albuquerque. Coronado.
Top 10
1. Eastwood: The Troopers won the Canutillo Invitational at Canutillo Middle School with 25 points. Eastwood placed all five scoring runners in the top 10 lead by junior Alexander Flores (second, 16:31.36). Senior Matthew Marshall was fourth in 17:02.39 followed by senior Anthony Casillas (fifth, 17:24.80), junior Leo Espino (sixth,17:32.41) and senior Joaquin Chavez (ninth, 17:49.43). Eastwood’s 1 through 5 split was 1 minute and 18 seconds, something they must work on during the season. The team will race at the Rudy Alvarez Invitational at Del Valle on Saturday.
2. Franklin: The Cougars won their invitational at Mary Frances Keisling Park with 31 points. Franklin had four runners in the top 10 including junior Matthew Engle (second, 16:04.89), senior Diego Flores (third, 16:20.54), junior Juan Leal (seventh, 16:51.01) and senior Denovan Estrada (eighth, 16:56.69). Franklin’s 1-5 split was 53 seconds. The team will travel to Southlake Carroll.
3. Coronado: The T-Birds finished second at the Franklin Invitational with 66 points. Senior Luis Pastor won his second straight individual title in 15:46.25. Junior Edgar Valles was ninth in 16:57.66. The team will race at Albuquerque Invitational on Saturday.
4. Pebble Hills: The Spartans were again without Texas Mile Split preseason first team All State runner senior Omer Ibrahim who is nursing a minor injury. The team finished fourth at the 14-team, 100-runner Franklin Invitational. Sophomore Ameen Ibrahim was the top finisher, placing 21st in 17:43.10. The Spartans will race at the Rudy Alvarez Invitational at Del Valle on Saturday.
5. San Elizario: The Eagles were second at the Canutillo Invitational with 44 points. Senior Chris Moreno won his second consecutive individual crown in 16:31.09. Junior Julian Guerra was third in 17:01.21 and junior Angel Maese was eighth in 17:44.44. The team will race at Del Valle on Saturday.
6. El Paso High: The Tigers move up two spots after its third-place finish at the Franklin Invitational. Sophomore Miles Westbrook was the low-point runner, finishing 13th in 17:12.87. Junior Leo Valenzuela (19th, 17:30.72) and sophomore Ulysses O’Rourke (20th, 17:40.42) had top 20 finishes. El Paso will race at the Gadsden Invitational on Saturday.
7. Cathedral: The Irish did not race on Saturday. The team is scheduled to race at the Rudy Alvarez Invitational at Del Valle on Saturday.
8. Tornillo: The Class 3A Coyotesjump in the top 10 for the first time this season after its impressive fifth place finish at the tough Franklin Invitational. For the past two years Tornillo’s 1-2 punch of junior Daniel Romero, (fifth, 16:39.06) and senior Angel Torres (sixth, 16:44.41) have been state contenders as individuals. Now it appears the team might have runners in the 3 to 5 slots to make another run at a state team medal. Only time will tell. The team will race at the Rudy Alvarez Invitational at Del Valle on Saturday.
9. Americas: The Trailblazers drop three spots after finishing sixth at the Franklin Invitational. Its top runner was junior Jacob Corral who was 28th in 18:29.62. Americas will race at the Rudy Alvarez Invitational at Del Valle on Saturday.
10. Hanks: The Knights drop one after its 7th place finish at the Franklin Invitational. Senior Alejandro Tarin was fourth in 16:22.89. Hanks will race at the Rudy Alvarez Invitational at Del Valle on Saturday.
Dropped out: Eastlake.
On the brink: Chapin, Bel Air.
Franklin’s Matthew Engle
Top times (3 mile or 5K)
1, Luis Pastor, Coronado, 15:46.25 (Mary Keisling Park, 8/20).
2, Matthew Engle, Franklin, 16:04.89 (Mary Keisling Park, 8/20).
3, Diego Flores, Franklin, 16:20.54 (Mary Keisling Park, 8/20).
4, Alejandro Tarin, Hanks, 16:22.89 (Mary Keisling Park, 8/20).
5, Chris Moreno, San Elizario, 16:29.97 (Clint, 8/13).
6, Alexander Flores, Eastwood, 16:31.36 (Canutillo, 8/20).
7, Daniel Romero, Tornillo, 16:36.91 (Clint, 8/13).
8, Ameen Ibrahim, Pebble Hills, 16:42.44 (Blackie Chesher, 8/12).
9, Noah Castorena, Pebble Hills, 16:44.13 (Blackie Chesher, 8/12).
10, Angel Torres, Tornillo, 16:44.41 (Mary Keisling Park, 8/20).
11, Julian Guerra, San Elizario, 16:45.80 (Clint, 8/13).
12, Juan Leal, Franklin, 16:51.01 (Mary Keisling Park, 8/20).
13, Jacob Noble, Cathedral, 16:51.73 (Blackie Chesher, 8/12).
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.
The big this week is Del Valle High School on Saturday.
This week’s schedule
Rudy Alvarez Invitational: 8 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 27 at Del Valle High School. Burges, Jefferson, Andress, Chapin, Del Valle, Pebble Hills, Montwood, Eastlake, Socorro, Americas, San Eli, Ysleta, Bel Air, Hanks, Parkland, VVECH, Eastwood, Ft Hancock, Loretto, Cathedral, Tornillo, Riverside, Canutillo.
Gadsden Invitational: 8 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 27 at Chaparral High School. Irvin, Austin, Bowie, El Paso.
Southlake Carroll Invitational: 8 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 27 at Southlake Carroll High School. Franklin.
Albuquerque Invitational: 8 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 27 in Albuquerque. Coronado.
The Pebble Hills girls have moved up another spot this week. They will race at Del Valle on Saturday.
Top 10
1. Franklin:The Cougars opened the 2022 season with a resounding 1-5 sweep and a perfect score. Franklin placed runners in the first six spots and 10 out of the first 11 at its own invitational at Mary Frances Keisling Park. Senior Alyssa Laspada won the individual title in 20:07.26 followed by a pair of freshmen – Emily Orr in 20:36.10 and Abigail Pinon in 20:38.16. Sophomore Tessa Gibbons was fourth in 20:41.73 and senior Sofia Camacho was 20:42.09. The team average was 20:33.07. Franklin will travel to Southlake Carroll on Saturday.
2. Eastwood: The Troopers won the Canutillo Invitational placing five runners in the top 8 for 27 points. Sophomore Adelynn Rodriguez won the event in 19:33.45. Its four seniors finished in consecutive order – Salma Licon, fifth, 21:35.49; Sophia Watts, sixth, 21:38.08; Annika Cuellar, seventh, 21:42.80 and Hannah Tellez, eighth, 22:08.40. Its average time was 21:19.64. Eastwood will race the Rudy Alvarez Invitational at Del Valle High School on Saturday.
3. Montwood: The Rams finished second at the Canutillo Invitational with 59 points. Montwood placed three runners in the top nine with senior Kassandra Jimenez placing second in 19:54.12. Freshman Mia Hairston was fourth in 20:54.84 and senior Jazmine Miranda was ninth in 22:08.93.The team is scheduled to race the Rudy Alvarez Invitational at Del Valle High School on Saturday.
4. Pebble Hills: The Spartans move up one after finishing second at the Franklin Invitational at Mary Frances Keisling Park. Junior Natalie Franco paced Pebble Hills, finishing seventh in 20:54.83. Freshman Aubrey Arsenault was 13th in 21:26.48. Pebble Hills is scheduled to race at the Rudy Alvarez Invitational Saturday at Del Valle High School.
5. Canutillo: For the second straight week the Eagles move up a spot after finishing third at the Canutillo Invitational. Senior Natalie Rivera was third in 20:41.99 and freshman Nevaeh Escobedo was tenth in 22:09.42. The Eagles race at Del Valle.
6. Eastlake: The Falcons move up two spots after its third-place finish at the competitive Franklin Invitational. Eastlake had two runners in the top 20 – junior Itzel Chavez was 17th in 22:12.14 and junior Natalie Martinez was 18th in 22:21.56. The team will race the Rudy Alvarez Invitational at Del Valle High School on Saturday.
7. El Paso High: The Tigers finished a respectable fourth at the Franklin Invitational at Mary Frances Keisling Park. El Paso had two runners – junior Andrea Castillo (14th, 21:31.64) and senior Jezarae Valenzuela (19th, 22:32.79) – in the top 20. The team’s next race is the Gadsden Invitational at Chaparral High School.
8. Coronado: The T-Birds drop four spots after its fifth-place finish at the Franklin Invitational. Coronado struggled with the wet, muddy course. Senior Kyra Walker was 29th in 23:18.94. Coronado will compete at the Albuquerque Invitational on Saturday.
9. Del Valle: The Conquistadores have not run a full team at the Franklin Invitational. Senior Valeria Loo-Kung was 15th in 21:48.49. Hopefully we will see them in full force at its own invitational on Saturday.
10. Burges: The Mustangs are expected to make its team debut on Saturday at the Rudy Alvarez at Del Valle on Saturday.
Dropped out: None.
On the brink: Hanks, Chapin.
El Paso High junior Andrea Castillo leads the Tigers.
It’s no secret, the Franklin girls were supposed to be strong this year as they attempt to regroup after narrowly missing out on its third straight state appearance in 2021.
But what they did Saturday morning on a slippery, muddy course at Mary Frances Keisling Park was downright astonishing.
The Cougars opened the 2022 campaign with a perfect score, placing runners in the first nine spots and 10 out of the first 11.
Pebble Hills junior Natalie Franco was the only non-Franklin runner to crack the top 10, placing tenth in 21:06.64.
“It was fun and muddy,” said senior Alyssa Laspada who won the individual title in 20:07.26. “I was a little nervous but also excited.”
She has every reason to be excited.
Laspada was followed by two freshmen – Emily Orr and Abigail Pinon who finished second (20:36.10) and third (20:38.16).
Sophomore Tessa Gibbons was fourth in 20:41.73 and senior Sofia Camacho was fifth 20:42.09, senior Abigail Barraza was eight in 21:04.83 and junior Brooke McCune was ninth in 21:06.07.
“The freshmen did really well,” Laspada said. “I have high expectations for myself and for the team.”
Laspada was the lone runner to represent Franklin at the Class 6A state meet last year.
“It’s been challenging to rebuild after losing some quality seniors the past two years, but we’re getting there,” she said. “Now, as seniors, Sofia (Camacho) and Abby (Barraza) and I have gained the respect of the girls because they saw how hard we worked which ultimately led to success.”
Orr, who was at Wiggs Middle School last year, said the course was difficult but fun.
“It was really muddy and really steep, and I couldn’t find good footing, but I felt strong,” she said. “I just came off an injury, so it felt good to be back.”
Orr understands the responsibility of running as a freshman on a team as talented as Franklin.
“I really like the team; we’re really close and strong,” she said. “Everyone is fast and talented. I take a lot of advice from Alyssa and Abby. I look up to them and try to keep up with them and try to do what they do.”
Orr said she understands her role.
“I’m hoping good things happen to us this year,” she said. “It’s an amazing team. Me and the other freshman are going to have a huge role. I think we’ll be able to get to state and be able to pull the team together.”
Pinon, who ran at Canutillo Middle School, is also excited to run varsity as a freshman.
“It’s really special, I love running with them,” she said. “It’s something that I’ll cherish forever. My role is to work hard and stay determined. We have to keep on pushing each other and ourselves.
Luis Pastor.
Franklin boys; Coronado’s Pastor shine
Coronado’s Luis Pastor has started his senior season off strong, following up his 2.7-mile Irvin Invitational championship with another at Mary Frances Keisling Park.
“I’ve been saying I wanted to run 15 (minutes) here all week because I knew it was a flat course, but the conditions didn’t allow for that, so I had to adjust and run tough,” Pastor said. “I fell behind in the first 800 meters, so I had to make a quick kick to be where I wanted to be. I passed the front runners and that drained a lot of me, but I was able to hold strong for the rest of the race.”
Pastor posted a 15:46.25 on the muddy course.
Franklin easily won the team championship with 31 points.
Junior Matthew Engle and senior Diego Flores placed second and third in 16:04.89 and 16:20.54, junior Juan Leal was seventh in 16:51.01 and senior Denovan Estrada was eighth in 16:56.69
Hanks senior Alejandro Tarin was fourth (16:22.89), Tornillo junior Daniel Romero was fifth (16:39.06), his senior teammate, Angel Torres was sixth (16:44.41), Coronado junior Edgar Valles was ninth in 16:57.66 and Parkland senior Michael Castorena had his second top 10 finish, placing tenth in 16:58.51.
“In terms of placement, first is always great but I’m not happy with the time,” Pastor said. “It could have been a lot faster; I could have pushed myself a little more. Even in these conditions there is always a little bit left. I needed the guys to push me, but I was out there by myself for most of the race.”
Pastor, who finished 10th at state last year in 15:19.9, earning him All State honors, was named to the Texas Milesplit Preseason All State team on Friday.
“People tend to get comfortable once they run the time they want to,” he said. “Last year, I was gunning for (Alan) Culpepper’s school records. For the longest time, that was my motivation. But once I got them, I had to figure out what other carrot I could chase; what will motivate me and push me?”
Pastor set two new school records at the UIL Class 6A State Track and Field Championship his junior year – racing to a 9:03.83 in the 3,200 meters, and a blazing 4:11.34 in the 1,600 meters.
He is now focused on Bel Air’s Sergio Oaxaca’s 1,600 city record of 4:08.9 he set in 1980 and Eastwood’s Daniel Bernal’s 3200-meter city record of 8:54.21 he set in 2017.
“I’ve been setting my sights on either winning state or take both El Paso city distance records in track,” he said. “That’s what’s really motivating me.”
He said there is no greater motivator than fear.
“I’m really afraid of being bad, not improving or giving my best,” he said. “If you’re not going to give it your best, then why are you out here? There are times in workouts where we treat it as a race. There’s never been a workout where we go easy. Even on our easy pace, we’re going hard, we’re trying to outrace each other on the daily at practice and that breeds amazing competitive spirit. You always have something else to push for.”
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.
Franklin Invitational: 8 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 20, Mary Frances Keisling Park. Franklin, Coronado, Irvin, El Paso, Chapin, Pebble Hills, Eastlake, Americas, Hanks, Ft Hancock, Tornillo, VVECH, Ysleta, Del Valle,
Canutillo Invitational: 8 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 20, Canutillo Middle School. Eastwood, Canutillo, Austin, Burges, Jefferson, Andress, Bowie, Radford, Montwood, Socorro, Hanks, YWLA, Anthony, Cathedral, Loretto, Santa Teresa, Gadsden, Chaparral, San Eli, Bel Air.
The San Elizario Eagles are ranked No. 2 in the state in Class 4A.
Top 10
1. Eastwood: The Troopers will start its season Saturday at the Canutillo Invitational at Canutillo Middle School. The Troopers are ranked No. 5 in Class 6A by the Texas Cross Country Coaches Association.
2. Franklin: The Cougars will begin the 2022 campaign Saturday at its own Invitational at Mary Frances Keisling Park.
3. Coronado: The T-Birds placed four runners in the top 10 and won the Irvin Invitational at Skyline Park with 27 points. Senior Luis Pastor won the 2.7-mile race in 13:18.52 followed by junior Edgar Valles (fourth, 15:35.63), junior Preston Eastman (fifth, 15:36.97), senior Sam Flores (seventh, 15:42.57) and junior Carlos Mendez (tenth, 15:54.01). The team will race at the Franklin Invitational Saturday at Mary Frances Keisling Park.
4. Pebble Hills: Senior Omer Ibrahim did not race the Eastlake Invitational on Friday, but the Spartans still managed to win the event, placing all five scoring runners in the top 10. Ibrahim’s brother, sophomore Ameen Ibrahim, won his first individual title, racing to a 16:42.44. Senior Noah Castorena was second in 16:44.13 followed by sophomore Zach Rivas (seventh, 17:22.00), junior Robert Dickerson (ninth, 17:25.15) and Micah Lay (tenth, 17:31.18). The Spartans will race at the Franklin Invitational Saturday at Mary Frances Keisling Park.
5. San Elizario: The Eagles won the Clint Invitational placing three runners in the top 10. Senior Chris Moreno won the individual crown in 16:29.97 followed by junior Julian Guerra (third, 16:45.80) and junior Angel Maese (ninth, 18:12.10). The Eagles are ranked No. 2 in Class 4A by the Texas Cross Country Coaches Association. San Elizario will race at the Canutillo Invitational at Canutillo Middle School on Saturday.
6. Americas: The Trailblazers finished second at the Eastlake Invitational on Friday without placing a runner in the top 10. Its top two runners were junior Christian Hurtado who was 12th in 17:44.47 and Jacob Corral was 14th in 17:47.45. Americas will race at the Franklin Invitational Saturday at Mary Frances Keisling Park.
7. Cathedral: The Irish did not run a full team at the Eastlake Invitational. However, seniors Jacob Noble was third in 16:51.73 and Elijah Noble was fourth in 16:52.88. Cathedral will race at the Canutillo Invitational at Canutillo Middle School on Saturday.
8. El Paso High: The Tigers finished six points behind Coronado at the Irvin Invitational with four runners in the top 10. Sophomore Miles Westbrook was third in 15:21.48, sophomore Ulysses O’Rourke was sixth in 15:40.54, junior Leo Valenzuela was eighth in 15:44.32 and junior Ayden Lugo was ninth in 15:46.44. The course measured the 2.7-miles. El Paso will be tested at the Franklin Invitational Saturday at Mary Frances Keisling Park.
9. Hanks: The Knights move up a spot after its second-place finish at Clint. Hanks had two runners finish in the top 11 – senior Alejandro Tarin was fourth in 16:50.00 and senior Angel Gomez was 11th in 18:54.65. Hanks will race at the loaded Franklin Invitational at Mary Frances Keisling Park.
10. Eastlake: The Falcon make its season debut in the top 10 after finishing third at its own Invitational. Its top runner was junior Diego Mota who finished 11th in 17:39.34. Eastlake will race at the Franklin Invitational at Mary Frances Keisling Park.
Dropped out: Chapin.
On the brink: Tornillo.
Pebble Hills sophomore Ameen Ibrahim won the Eastlake Invitational last week in 16:42.44
Top times (3 mile or 5K)
1, Chris Moreno, San Elizario, 16:29.97 (Clint, 8/13).
2, Daniel Romero, Tornillo, 16:36.91 (Clint, 8/13).
3, Ameen Ibrahim, Pebble Hills, 16:42.44 (Blackie Chesher, 8/12).
4, Noah Castorena, Pebble Hills, 16:44.13 (Blackie Chesher, 8/12).
5, Julian Guerra, San Elizario, 16:45.80 (Clint, 8/13).
Every Wednesday, El Paso Running will utilize a point system to highlight El Paso’s top girl’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.
Franklin Invitational: 8 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 20, Mary Frances Keisling Park. Franklin, Coronado, Irvin, El Paso, Chapin, Pebble Hills, Eastlake, Americas, Hanks, Ft Hancock, Tornillo, VVECH, Ysleta, Del Valle.
Canutillo Invitational: 8 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 20, Canutillo Middle School. Eastwood, Canutillo, Austin, Burges, Jefferson, Andress, Bowie, Radford, Montwood, Socorro, Hanks, YWLA, Anthony, Cathedral, Loretto, Santa Teresa, Gadsden, Chaparral, San Eli, Bel Air.
Franklin senior Alyssa Laspada will begin her final season on Saturday. She has run on the Cougars varsity since she was a freshman.
Top 10
1. Franklin: The Cougars open its season Saturday at its own invitational at Mary Frances Keisling Park. Parking is bad, so get there early.
2. Eastwood: The Troopers open its season Saturday at the Canutillo Invitational at Canutillo Middle School.
3. Montwood: The Rams did not run a full team at the Eastlake Invitational at Blackie Chesher Park but senior Jazmine Miranda finished sixth in 21:00.13. The team is scheduled to race at the Canutillo Invitational at Canutillo Middle School on Saturday.
4. Coronado: The T-Birds won the Irvin Invitational at Skyline Park (2.7 miles) placing three runners in the top 8 including Carolina Pitchkolan (third, 20:04.50), Kyra Walker (fourth, 20:10.07) and Isabella Galindo (eighth, 20:35.57). Coronado is scheduled to race at the Franklin Invitational, Saturday at Mary Frances Keisling Park.
5. Pebble Hills: The Spartans won the Eastlake Invitational at Blackie Chesher Park in an average time of 21:06.94. The team swept the top three spots with freshman Aubrey Arsenault winning in 20:27.08 followed by juniors Natalie Franco (second, 20:33.60) and Carolina Zarrabal (third, 20:45.32). Pebble Hills is scheduled to race at the Franklin Invitational, Saturday at Mary Frances Keisling Park.
6. Canutillo: The Eagles move up one spot after finishing four points behind Coronado at the Irvin Invitational at Skyline Park. Senior Natalie Rivera won the 2.7-mile event in 17:42.75, senior Jennifer Najar was fifth in 20:13.43 and sophomore Arianna Castaneda was ninth in 20:38.54. They will race at its own invitational at Canutillo Middle School on Saturday.
7. El Paso High: The Tigers move up one after finishing third at the Irvin Invitational at Skyline Park. El Paso placed four runners in the top 12 and two in the top the top six. Junior Andrea Castillo was second in the 2.7-mile race in 19:58.64 and senior Jezarae Valenzuela was sixth in 20:21.07. The team will be challenged at the Franklin Invitational, Saturday at Mary Frances Keisling Park.
8. Eastlake: The Falcons break into the Top 10 after finishing second at the Eastlake Invitational at Blackie Chesher Park. Eastlake placed four runners in the top 10 including Itzel Chavez (fourth, 20:50.62), Chloe Del Real (seventh, 21:05.01), Natalie Martinez (ninth, 21:13.09) and Sarah Dovenbarger (tenth, 21:24.40). The team will race at the Franklin Invitational, Saturday at Mary Frances Keisling Park.
9. Del Valle:The Conquistadores will open the season Saturday at the Franklin Invitational at Mary Frances Keisling Park.
10. Burges: The Mustangs will race at the Canutillo Invitational at Canutillo Middle School.
Dropped out: Americas.
On the brink: Hanks, Chapin.
Pebble Hills’ Natalia Martinez will begin her 2022 campaign at the Franklin Invitational on Saturday.
Top Times (3 mile or 5K)
1, Aubrey Arsenault, Pebble Hills, 20:27.08 (Blackie Chesher, 8/12).
2, Natalie Franco, Pebble Hills, 20:33.60 (Blackie Chesher, 8/12).
3, Carolina Zarrabal, Pebble Hills, 20:45.32 (Blackie Chesher, 8/12).
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.
Eastwood will rely on seniors Joaquin Chavez and Anthony Casillas this season.
This week’s schedule
Eastlake Invitational: 8 a.m., Friday, Aug. 12 at Blackie Chesher Park. Burges, Jefferson, Chapin, Pebble Hills, Montwood, Eastlake, Americas, Hanks, Del Valle and Cathedral,
Irvin Invitational: 8 a.m., Friday, Aug. 12 at Skyline Park. Irvin, Coronado, Austin, El Paso, Andress, Bowie, Radford, El Dorado, Ysleta, Loretto.
Clint Invitational: 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 13 at Clint High School. Clint, San Eli, Anthony, Eastwood, Ft Hancock, Bel Air, Riverside, Tornillo, Pebble Hills.
Pebble Hills senior Omer Ibrahim returns after finishing eighth in 15:17.3 at the UIL Class 6A Championship.
Top 10
1. Eastwood: The Troopers won its fifth consecutive state medal winning bronze in Class 6A in 2021. The team lost five of its top five runners including Andres Gurrola and Isaac Mendoza who had top 20 finishes at state. Eastwood will rely on seniors Joaquin Chavez and Anthony Casillas, its No. 6 and No. 7 runners from last year. The Troopers might not have a front runner this season, but they will have a lot of depth which could lead to a sixth straight trip to state. They will start the season at the Clint Invitational on Saturday.
2. Franklin: After gaining valuable experience at the Region 1, Class 6A Championship last year, the Cougars will be a force to be reckoned with in 2022. The team returns six runners from that team – seniors Diego Flores, Austen Percifull, Denovan Estrada and Ria Lopez, and juniors Matthew Engle and Juan Leal. Joining the varsity this year are juniors Juan Leal and Adan Castillo. Franklin will start its season next week at its own invitational at Mary Frances Keisling Park..
3. Coronado: The T-Birds are primed to have a special year with senior Luis Pastor, who earned All-State honors last year in the Class 6A State Championship, finishing 10th in 15:19.9. The team will return four of its top seven runners including Pastor, seniors Sam Flores and Sam Breceda and junior Carlos Mendez. Two other juniors, Edgar Valles and Cathedral transfer Preston Arnett, are battling it out for the No. 2 runner for the T-Birds. Watch out for Coronado as they attempt to qualify to regionals. Coronado starts the season Friday at the Irvin Invitational at Skyline Park.
4. Pebble Hills: Omer Ibrahim returns for his senior year after finishing eighth in 15:17.3 at the UIL Class 6A Championship. Four of its top five will return including Ibrahim, senior Noah Castorena, sophomore Ameen Ibrahim and junior Robert Dickerson. Watch for sophomores Zach Rivas and Pablo Corral to provide depth. The team will race at the Eastlake Invitational on Friday.
5. San Elizario: The Eagles defended its Class 4A UIL state championship – its sixth championship in eight years in 2021. Senior Chris Moreno was state runner-up finishing in 15:45.8. Also returning are juniors Julián Guerra and Ángel Maese. As in every season, San Elizario will start of slow and build up for championship season. They will race at the Clint Invitational.
6. Americas: The Trailblazers finished sixth at the Region 1-6A Meet. Gone are Americas top two runners Jared Laverty and Carmelo Corral who made it to state in 2021. Americas looks to rebuild with only two of its top seven returning – seniors Stefan Alvarez and Rene Renteria. Junior Christian Hurtado will make a solid third runner. Americas will count on a pair of sophomores and a freshman to fill out its top seven.
7. Cathedral: The Irish finished with a bronze medal at the TAPPS State Championship in 2021. Seniors Elijah Noble (eighth at state in 17:08.50) Jacob Noble (12th at stat in 17:22.3) will be the front runners for the Irish. The rebuilding begins Friday at the Eastlake Invitational.
8. El Paso High: The Tigers had a solid summer of training.The team was on the brink of cracking the top 10 every week in 2021 This year, they begin the season as one of the top programs in the city. The team is led by juniors Leo Valenzuela and Ayden Lugo. Expect big things from sophomores Ulysses O’Rourke and Miles Westbrook. El Paso High looks to return to the Region 1-5A Championship. The team will race at the Irvin Invitational on Friday.
9. Chapin: The Huskies return four of its top five runners from a team that advanced to the Region 1-5A championship. Junior Seth Truax leads the charge along with sophomore Braulio Torres and junior Dauntae Herrera. Senior Adriel Lira will also be counted on heavily. Chapin will be tested early at the Eastlake Invitational on Friday.
10. Hanks: The Knights have three runners returning from its regional qualifying team including senior Alejandro Tarin. Tarin advanced to state and finished 27th in 16:05.6. Seniors Angel Gomez and Andres Garcia also return. The Knights will need to find suitable fourth and fifth runners to qualify for regionals again this season. Hanks start the start Friday at the Eastlake Invitational.
El Paso Running 