Author: Victor R. Martinez

The lights shined brightly over Socorro’s Student Athletic Complex Friday night.

But the athletes on the field were not wearing cleats or shoulder pads. They were geared with running bibs and running shoes as 268 athletes took part in the inaugural Run to Midnight hosted by Montwood High School. Many of the runners wore neon glow sticks around their necks or neon glow paint on their arms, legs and faces as they made their way twice around the stadium parking lot and into the stadium to complete the 3-mile August fun run.

That is, it was fun until the competitive juices took over and the fun quickly turned serious.

The Americas girl’s and boy’s teams definitely did not take this race lightly or as a training run.

The girls had runners finish in second (Mariana Guzman, 19:06.79), third (Daphne Duran, 19:07.87), fourth (Priscilla Villalobos, 19:08,71) and seventh (Lauren Anderson, 20:07.55) to win the meet with 30 points.

Eastlake was right there with 35 points including a first place finish by senior Aeriel Garcia (18:18.45) and a fifth place finish by Amaris Chavez (19:20.34).

Rounding out the top 10 were sixth place, Karyme Garcia, Montwood, 19:54.278; eighth place, Morayma Montes, Austin, 20:15.24; ninth place, Deserie Herrera, Eastlake, 20:21.12 and Diane Mena from Montwood in 10^th place in 20:26.84.

For Garcia, winning the meet was a humbling experience.

“Not a lot of people know but I quit my club basketball team so I could focus on my running,” she said. “I figured this should be my number one priority because I’m better at this than I am at basketball.”

She said she has been training very hard this summer and is happy to see the benefits.

“I have my friend Amaris pushing me every day at practice reminding me to do things the right way all the time and that’s been really big help,” she said.

The Americas boys were just as dominate placing five runners in the top 10 including freshman Carmelo Corral (third, 15:39:86); Alek Duran (fifth,16:01:90); Gage Garcia (sixth, 16:02:88); Tyler Rodriguez (seventh, 16:03:93) and Hector Sanchez (10^th, 16:30:16).

Individually Hanks’ junior Roger Rivera won the race in 15:09:58 followed by Cathedral’s Brandon Seagraves (15:22:57). Other top 10 runners were Israel David, Eastlake (fourth, 15:50:12); Hector Rivera, Bel Air (eighth, 16:14:27) and Trenton Nelson, Montwood (ninth, 16:28:67).

Cathedral also had solid team performance, finishing second with 66 points followed by Eastlake at 99.

Rivera came into the race not expecting too much out of the first meet of the season. Matter of fact he was aiming for a 15:30 on the 3-mile course.

“What really helped me is my teammate Michael (Abeyta) who always pushes me in practice,” Rivera said of two-time state cross country runner. “This really sets the tone for the season for me and my teammates. We’re going to have to continue to work hard to get where we want to be.”

Abeyta did not run in this race.

Here are the top 20 runners:

Boys

1, Roger Rivera, Hanks, 15:09:58; 2, Brandon Seagraves, Cathedral, 15:22:57; 3, Carmelo Corral, Americas, 15:39:86; 4, Israel David, Eastlake, 15:50:12; 5, Alek Duran, Americas, 16:01:90; 6, Gage Garcia, Americas, 16:02:88; 7, Tyler Rodriguez, Americas, 16:03:93; 8, Hector Rivera, Bel Air, 16:14:27; 9, Trenton Nelson, Montwood, 16:28:67; 10, Hector Sanchez, Americas, 16:30:16; 11, Fernando Anzures, Cathedral, 16:30:61; 12, Carlos Armendariz, Eastlake, 16:31:41; 13, Stephen Stresow, Cathedral, 16:35:06; 14, Seth Andrade, Americas, 16:38:73; 15, Andres Marquez, Eastwood, 16:38:86; 16, Jacob Ye, Americas, 16:40:65; 17, Nick Barajas, Americas, 16:44:11; 18, Adrian Morales, Irvin, 16:44:62; 19, Nicolas Maes, Cathedral, 16:45:47; 20,  Henry Aguirre, Americas, 16:46:64.

Team Results:

1, Americas, 31; 2, Cathedral, 66; 3, Eastlake, 99; 4, Eastwood, 121; 5, Irvin, 166; 6, Pebble Hills, 175; 7, Hanks, 178; 8, Montwood, 181; 9, Bel Air, 193; 10, Ysleta, 269.

For full results, click:  http://www.arrowliveresults.com/BoysCombinedMontwoodRaceToMidnight

Girls

1, Aeriel Garcia, Eastlake, 18:18.45; 2, Mariana Guzman, Americas, 19:06.79; 3, Daphne Duran, Americas, 19:07.87; 4, Priscilla Villalobos, Americas, 19:08,71; 5, Amaris Chavez, Eastlake, 19:20.34; 6, Karyme Garcia, Montwood, 19:54.27; 7, Lauren Anderson, Americas 20:07.55; 8, Morayma Montes, Austin, 20:15.24; 9, Deserie Herrera, Eastlake, 20:21.12; 10,Diane Mena,Montwood, 20:26.84; 11, Ruby Medina, Eastlake, 20:33.11; 12, Stephanie Gastelum, Eastlake, 20:22.11; 13, Caitlin Martinez, Eastlake, 20:40.10; 14, Giselle Rubio, Eastlake, 20:40.30; 15, Victoria Duran, Americas, 20:56.82; 16, Rosemary Torres, Bel Air, 21:01.89; 17, Maya Ramirez, Americas, 21:06.55; 18, Itzel Garcia-Gama, Americas, 21:08.03; 19, Isabella Medina, Americas, 21:08.23; 20, Jackie Spencer, Hanks, 21:09.55.

Team Results:

1, Americas, 30; 2, Eastlake, 35; 3, Montwood, 100; 4, Bel Air, 120; 5, Hanks,131; 6, Eastwood, 169; 7, Pebble Hills, 170; 8, Ysleta, 237; 9, Irvin, 245.

For full results, click here: www.arrowliveresults.com/GirlsCombinedMontwoodRaceToMidnight

The El Paso high school cross country season begins with two distinct meets this weekend – Montwood’s Race to Midnight Invitational on Friday night and Mt. View’s Desert Run Challenge Saturday morning.

The Race to Midnight Invitational is two 1.5 mile loops around the Socorro Student Activities Complex’s football stadium and 800 meters around the track inside the stadium.

The runners will start at different times depending on their 5K time with the idea they enter the stadium as the clock ticks down to midnight.

The first wave of runners will start at 11:20 p.m., 11:30 p.m., 11:35 p.m., 11:40 p.m. and 11:44 p.m.

This is the first time this type of race has been attempted in El Paso.

Several of the city’s top boy’s teams will compete including Eastwood, Americas, Tornillo and Hanks.  On the girl’s side, Eastwood, Americas, Eastlake and Montwood are scheduled to race.

Runners to watch include: Hanks junior Michael Abeyta who finished second at the Region 1-5A Meet (14.44.80) and second at the Class 5A UIL State Championship (15.00.18), 2 seconds from a gold medal and Eastwood junior Elias Perez (11th at the Region 1-6A Meet and 27th at State).

On Saturday morning at 8 a.m. the Clint ISD will present the Desert Run Challenge at Mt. View High School.

The first year event is a 2.7 mile single loop trail in the far East El Paso desert

The challenging course consists of dirt, caliche, loose sand with numerous turns and one small hill. The course is marked with red flags approximately 20 meters apart. The starting and finish line are located at the practice football field, west of the stadium.

The varsity girls will race first at 8 a.m. followed by the varsity boys.

Top boy’s teams are San Elizario, the four-time Class 4A State Champion, Burges, Franklin and El Paso High. The top girl’s are Coronado,  Horizon, Chapin, Franklin,  El Paso High and San Elizario.

Runners to watch are Class 4A state champion San Elizario sophomore Edwin Gomez (15:36.16);  Coronado senior Liam Walsh who finished 7th at the Region 1-6A Meet in 15:11.36  and 31st at State in 15:44.03; Walsh’s classmate senior Jenelle Jaeger-Darakjy who was 9th at the Class 6A regional (17:44.17) and 22nd at State (18:25.22) and super sophomore Franklin’s Eva Jess (5th at State, 14:34.75; 5th at regionals, 17:17.03).

1. Eastwood: The Troopers had a special year in 2017, capturing a bronze medal at the Class 6A UIL State Cross Country Championship. Gone are its top two runners Anthony Molina (NMSU) and Gabe Armijo (Houston) but in steps a new crop of runners gunning for a state title in a different classification. Because of a drop in enrollment, Eastwood is now in Class 5A. However, expectations remain the same as juniors Elias Perez and Juan Olmos take the leadership roles. Seniors Kayn Quinones and Eddie Gallegos will look to fill the spots vacated by Armijo and Molina.

2. Americas: With Eastwood moving to Class 5A, the District 1-6A race should come down to the Trailblazers and Coronado. The Americas boys are seeking its first district title since 2005. Americas returns four of its top five runners including junior Jacob Ye, senior Tyler Rodriguez, junior Hector Sanchez and senior Alek Duran. The Trailblazers placed 6^that the Region 1-6A Meet.

3. Coronado: But don’t be surprised if the T-Birds win it. Coronado’s top three – senior Liam Walsh and juniors Nick Gonzalez and Alan Alba – return. Senior Nicolas Kraynick and junior Dominic Lara round out a solid top five which finished 11^that the Region 1-6A Meet.

4. San Elizario: A fifth straight state championship. That’s what the Eagles are aiming for this season. And why not? With all but two runners back, “one for the thumb” is a realistic goal. Individual state and regional champion sophomore Edwin Gomez returns along with All State runner junior Rene Arambula (5^that state), juniors Antonio Diaz, Martin Pargas and Seth Rodriguez.

5. Burges: The Mustangs have quietly built a solid cross country program and with four seniors and two underclassmen returning from a Region 1-5A bronze medal team that finished 14^that the state meet, there is no reason why Burges cannot be better. Seniors Sam Zambrano, Luis Cuevas, Alvaro Barroeta and Angel Ortiz will lead the charge along with junior Noah Yeager who finished 25^that state.

6. Franklin: The Cougars will contend for a top three District 1-6A finish and advancement to the regional meet if they stay healthy. Top returnees include seniors Jacobo Wedemeyer and Milo Alvarado, junior Daniel Kennedy and sophomore Albert Mendez.

7. Tornillo: The Coyotes earned their second consecutive silver medal at the Class 3A UIL State Meet last season and return five of those runners including seniors Eduardo Carrillo, Heriberto Amaya and Tommy Montelongo. Junior Ofir Ortega and sophomore Bryan Garcia are expected to add depth. The Coyotes have won four straight district and Region 1-3A championships.

8. Hanks: Junior Michael Abeyta is the most talented runner in El Paso. He finished second at the Region 1-5A and the Class 5A State Meet behind Aledo’s junior runner Graydon Morris. Abeyta has lifted the Knights to a District 2-5A runner-up spot last year and an 8^thplace regional finish. Fellow classmates Roger Rivera and Omar Munoz will need some help if the Knights will be able to return to regionals.

9. Socorro: After a few down years, the Bulldogs hope to contend for a spot to the Region 1-6A Meet. The Bulldogs return its top five including seniors Sebastian Mendoza, Ivan Carrera and Isaias Hernandez, junior Christian Parra and sophomore Devin Cook.

10. El Paso: The Tigers are hungry and determined after just missing out on a trip to the Region 1-5A Championship. The young Tigers are a year more experienced and are eager to improve. Sophomore Josep Ferret and juniors Matthew Avila, Jacob Ontiveros and Benjamin Grajeda look to improve.

On the brink: Eastlake, Chapin.

Please bear with us as we build a proper site. We are a work in progress. We can’t wait to fill these pages with your stories.

Running is a passion. For those who participate and for those fans who appreciate the will power and determination of those runners who keep on pushing, even though their bodies are telling them different. Running is a relatively new obsession for me. Most of my family runs. I was married to runner who made it to UIL Texas State Track and Field Championship in the 800-meters. Our son Deric was an All-City runner at El Paso Eastwood in 2014, went on to become an All American in the 5,000 meters at South Plains College in 2017 and earned a scholarship to run at East Carolina University.

As for me, I detested running. I mean, I would run to stay in shape to officiate high school basketball games but now I run just for the sheer enjoyment of it. My true love of running didn’t find me until the summer of 2016.  Once I was bitten, it was all over. Running and I began our love affair and our love has only proven stronger as time goes on.

There have been some set-backs along the way – injuries, lack of motivation, sometimes claiming to be “too busy” – but I have always come back. It has become a part of me, an opportunity to clear my mind of the daily rigors of life, to use my God-given ability and to realize how lucky I am to have two strong limbs to carry me through the best and worst times.

Running provides a place where runners can draw strength from places they have to discover for themselves. During a very challenging part of my life, I became severely depressed and felt overwhelmed by the things happening in my life. Running became my solace, my only guaranteed ‘me time,’ where I could sort through life’s complications.

What I have realized is that you don’t have to be young to start your journey. I started my running odyssey when I was 49 years old. You can start at any stage of life. I have also learned it’s not how fast you are or how far you go that makes you a runner. It’s all about the adventure and the people you meet along the way. And what an amazing supportive group of people. It doesn’t matter how fast you are, other runners will be there encouraging you and building you up. It’s a community that cares.

And this is why I created this blog, to tell the many stories runners have locked up in their hearts and souls. A place where people can share their innermost thoughts about what does for them. A place where people will appreciate others and to realize that running is a gift.

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.

Community, commentary and profile pieces will be a big part of this blog so input is vital in the success of this endeavor. We will seek videos, photos, and written content from your users.