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.
The 2019 cross country season opens this weekend with two meets – one on Friday night and the other on Saturday morning.
The 2019 cross country season begins in El Paso this weekend with Montwood’s Race to Midnight Invitational starting at 11:20 p.m. Friday at Socorro’s Student Activities Complex and Clint ISD’s Mountain View Freedom Run at 8 a.m. Saturday.
Runners from all levels – freshman, junior varsity and varsity – will compete in Montwood’s late-night event. Start times are based on the runner’s 3-mile times with the idea that all runners will finish the race before midnight. It is the second year of the race.
Teams participating are Eastwood, Hanks, Coronado, Austin, Jefferson, Fabens, Irvin, Burges, Tornillo, Bowie, Valle Verde Early College, Bel Air, Montwood, Eastlake, El Dorado, Americas, Cathedral, Del Valle, Bel Air and Cathedral.
About 480 runners – 268 male and 212 female – are expected to race.
The top runners to watch are Coronado seniors Nick Gonzalez and Alan Alba, Hanks senior Rodger Rivera, Tornillo senior Ofir Ortega and Americas senior Jacob Ye.
The top runners to watch for the girls are Americas seniors Daphne Duran and Priscilla Villalobos, Morayama Montes from Austin, Sophia Flores from Coronado and Jefferson sophomore Monique Correa.
On Saturday, Mountain View will host the Freedom Run, a 2.7 mile single loop trail in the Far East desert at 8 a.m.
Clint, Mountain View, Horizon, Riverside, Franklin, Canutillo, Chapin, EPHS, Ft Hancock, LPI, YWLA, Parkland, Pebble Hills, Loretto, Andress, Parkland. San Elizario and Ysleta are scheduled to race.
Franklin junior Eva Jess ranks No. 15 in the state according to Texas MileSplit. She is working towards her third straight trip to the Class 6A UIL State Championship. She will race in Saturday’s Mt. View Freedom Run.
Franklin junior Eva Jess, who enters the season ranked No. 15 in the state by Texas MileSplit makes her debut as well as San Elizario junior Edwin Gomez who was the Class 4A state individual runner-up and who starts the season ranked No. 7 in the state by Texas MileSplit.
Here is the pre-season Top 10
Boys
1, Eastwood: The Troopers won the Class 5A state championship last year, scoring 62 points, 25 points ahead of Austin Johnson. Eastwood placed four runners in the top 25 including junior Sergio Leon Cuartas (11th, 15:29.82) seniors Juan Olmos (12th, 15:33.69) and Elias Perez (21st, 5:47.13.). Eastwood begins its quest to defend its state championship at Montwood’s Race to Midnight Invitational at the Socorro Student Activities Complex at 11 p.m. Friday.
2, Americas: The Trailblazers placed 15th at their first UIL Class 6A State Championship last year. Jacob Ye, who is now a senior, led Americas placing 27th in 15:47.33. Sophomore Jared Laverty, is the No. 2 ranked top returning 5K runner in the Class of 2022. He was 62nd at the state meet (16:04.26). With the return of senior Seth Andrade, junior Gage Garcia and sophomore Carmelo Corral, Americas seems destined to repeat as District 1-6A champions and a possible return to the state meet. Americas will run at the Race to Midnight Invitational.
3, San Elizario: The Eagles earned a bronze medal at the Class 4A State Championship last year. Edwin Gomez was the state individual runner-up finishing in 15:07.63. The junior star starts the season ranked No. 7 in the state by Texas Milesplit. With a bulk of its team back – seniors Rene Arambula and Seth Rodriguez, sophomore Irvin Vazquez, junior Dilan Sanchez, the Eagles will take shot at an another state championship. They will compete in Mt. View’s Freedom Run at 8 a.m. Saturday.
4, Hanks: Seniors Michael Abeyta and Rodger Rivera earned All State honors in the Class 5A State championship last fall – Abeyta was fifth in 15:15.72 and Rivera was eighth in 15:20.56. Texas Milesplit has Abeyta ranked No 8 in the state and Rivera at No. 14. Rivera will race in Friday’s Race to Midnight Invitational.
Hanks senior Rodger Rivera will race in Montwood’s Race to Midnight Invitational starting at 11:20 p.m. Friday at Socorro’s Student Activities Complex. Rivera is one of the top returning runners in Texas. (Photo courtesy of Texas MileSplit)
5, Coronado: Senior Nick Gonzalez, a four-year letterman, ran a season best 15:12.10 at the Region 1-6A Championship at Mae Simmons where he finished 10th in the Region of Doom. He finished 21st at the UIL State Meet in 15:29.16. Classmate Alan Alba was a 25 runner in El Paso last season and should provide a powerful 1-2 punch for the T-Birds. Coronado will take part in Friday’s Race to Midnight Invitational at the SAC.
6, Tornillo: Look for Tornillo to have a strong year as they return four of its top runners from a team that finished seventh in the Class 3A State Championship in 2018. Tornillo’s top runner, senior Ofir Ortega, was 15th at the state meet. Other returning runners are juniors Bryan Garcia and Michael Maney and sophomore Bryan Guzman.
7, Eastlake: Sophomore Israel David’s 16:09.56 at the UIL State Cross Country Meet is the state’s 5th fastest for a freshman last year. He looks to improve on his 43rd place finish at state. Eastlake finished second at the District 2-5A meet last year.
8, Franklin: Senior Daniel Kennedy will lead the Cougars this season. Kennedy had an 11th place finish at last year’s District 1-6A championship. Junior Andrew Cordero and senior Jonah Van Orman will also be heavily counted on.
9, Burges: Senior Noah Yeager was a top three runner for the Mustangs who hope to return to the Class 5A State Championship where the team placed 15th last year. The team might struggle early but coach Alex Smith will have the team in contention for another run for regionals by the end of the season.
10, Montwood: Could this be the year the Rams make a run for a spot to regionals? It very well could be with the return of junior Trenton Nelson and Ruben Gonzalez.
Dropped out: None. On the verge: Socorro, Chapin.
Expect another exciting season of girl’s cross country this season. A number of last year’s top teams and individuals are looking toward the UIL state championship.
Girls
1, Eastwood: The Troopers placed 11th at the Class 5A UIIL State Championship last year and return a bulk of that team. Sophomore Lauren Walls placed 25th at state (19:25.55) will lead the way with seniors Meadow Ortiz, Eileen McLain and Destiny Martinez not far behind. Sophmore Adalia Olmos provides Eastwood with a solid five runner.
2, Americas: The Trailblazers, which finished 11th at the Region 1-6A Championship, are refocused and determined to win a District 1-6A crown. The team is deep with seniors Daphne Duran (All-District, 2016, 2017, 2018) and Priscilla Villalobos, (All-District, 2016, 2018) and junior Lauren Anderson (All-District, 2018) leading the way. Senior Mariana Guzman was injured the past two cross country seasons, however, she set Americas School Records in the 3200 meters (11:10), and the 1600 meters (5:11), during the 2019 outdoor track season. Expect big things to happen with the special group.
Americas senior Daphne Duran leads a deep Trailblazers team into what hopes to be a promising season. Duran and her teammates will get the season started at Montwood’s Race to Midnight.
3, Franklin: The Cougars are looking to defend their District 1-6A title and make another run to regionals. Junior Eva Jess returns after placing 14th at the 2018 state meet where she finished 14th in 17:40.36. Texas Milesplit ranks Jess at No. 15 in the state. Big things are expected from sophomore Jenna Saunders and senior Lorien Clark and sophomore Jordan Torres who are more than capable.
4, Jefferson: The Foxes finished last season fifth at the Region 1-5A meet. The team will be led by sophomore Crystal Peterson who was a state qualifier (43rd in 19:21.03). Jefferson is solid with sophomore Monique Correa and seniors Karen Garcia, Ivette Rojas and Melody Tsutsumi.
5, Coronado: Senior Sophia Flores is the T-Birds top returning runner from last year’s Region 1-6A team. Flores could very well have a breakout season and lead Coronado back to the regional. Seniors Sofia Fodor and Sydney Puente as well as junior Veronica Lopez will contribute greatly to the season’s success.
6, Socorro: The Bulldogs will be led by All District 1-6A and Region 1-6A qualifier senior Jazmin Chacon. In order for the Bulldogs to earn a regional berth as a team in one of the toughest district’s in Texas, senior Janeth Chacon and sophomore Ana Rojas must gobble up as many points as possible.
7, Eastlake: Eastlake is in the mist of a rebuild with the loss of Aeriel Garcia and Amaris. Sophomore Ruby Medina, Deserie Herrera, Giselle Rubio and Emily Hernandez provide the Falcons with a bright future.
8, Horizon: The Scorpions return seniors Destiny Beltran and sophomore Andrea Villagomez to a team that qualified to the Region 1-5A championship. Look for Horizon to challenge for another shot at regionals.
9,Del Valle: The Conquistadores are building for the future. Sophomores Anisa Sanchez, Disany Sandoval have a year experience at the varsity level which should payoff this season. Katelyn Robles provides senior leadership.
10, San Elizario: The Eagles finished last season placing in 13th place at the Region 1-4A meet. They return all their team including top runners juniors America Morales and Emily Guerrero. Senior Natalia Perez, junior Karina Gallegos and senior Yajary Quiroz will look to defend their District 1-4A championship.
On a weekend where El Paso athletes won six medals – four of them gold – at the UIL State Track and Field Championship, five track and field athletes turned in city-best performances.
On the boy’s side, Franklin junior Etiwe Omajuwa won gold in the Class 6A 400-meter run in a city-best time of 46.51, which is also the fifth fastest high school time in the United States.
A pair of Coronado seniors – Grant Levesque and Liam Walsh – accomplished city-best marks, in the pole vault for Levesque (16-feet, 6-inches) and in the 1,600-meter run for Walsh (4:16.47).
Levesque won gold in the Class 6A pole vault and was was 9th in the 110-hurdles in a time of 14.75.
Walsh’s 1,600-meter time was good enough for sixth place in Class 6A. He also finished 4th in the 800-meter run in 1:53.81.
Coronado senior Jennelle Jaeger-Darakjy won gold in the Class 6A 800-meter race, finishing in 2:07.40 and Chapin senior Meghan Tualamalii won silver in the Class 5A shot. She threw a season best 41-feet, 4.75 inches.
(L-R) Franklin junior Etiwe Omajuwa won gold in the Class 6A 400-meter run, San Elizario sophomore Edwin Gomez won gold in the Class 4A 800, Coronado senior Grant Levesque won the Class 6A pole vault and Coronado senior Jennelle Jaeger-Darakjy won gold in the Class 6A 800-meter race.
Other state medalist:
*San Elizario sophomore Edwin Gomez won gold in the Class 4A 800 in 1:56.32. He also earned two bronze medals – in the 3,200 (9:31.46) and in the 1,600 meters in 4:17.57.
*Burges senior Joshua White who earned a bronze medal in the Class 5A 400-meter run. He finished the race in 49.00.
*Hanks junior Michael Abeyta earned a bronze medal in the Class 5A 1600-meter run in 4:16.59. He was fourth in the Class 5A 800-meter in 1:55.10.
*Eastlake sophomore Makeia Ray won bronze in the high jump. She leaped 5-feet, 5-inches.
Other state athlete finishes:
*Parkland junior Donta Hayes who finished 7th in the triple jump in Class 5A. He jumped 45-feet, 8.5 inches.
*Tornillo junior Ofir Ortega finished 8th in the Class 3A 3200-meter run in 10:04.81.
*Burges senior Christian Matamoros placed 7th in the Class 5A high jump with a 6-feet,4-inch leap.
*Parkland sophomore Angelina Lujan-Marrufo was 5th in the Class 5A 800-meter run. She ran a 2:17.04.
*Eastlake senior Aeriel Garcia finished the season 9th in the state in the 1600-meter run. She finished the race in 5:31.15.
TAPPS 6A Championship
Cathedral senior Brandon Seagreaves won the 3200-meter TAPPS state championship in a state-record time of 9:16.25 and the 1,600-meter in 4:29.48.
Leo Gerardo won the 800-meter run for the Irish in 1:58.10.
Cathedral’s 1,600-meter relay team of Leo Gerardo, Juan Pablo Lopez, Githin Johny and Brandon Seagreaves took fifth place in 3:27.39.
Cathedral senior Brandon Seagreaves won TAPPS 6A 3200 and 1600 meter state championship.
Here the top 10 track and field male athletes in each race and field event after the state championship:
Field Events
Discus: 1, Devean Deal, Pebble Hills, 165-feet, 4-inches; 2, Esteban Pena, Mt. View, 161-1; 3, Daniel Espinoza, Ysleta, 159-05; 4, Johnny Cerros, Franklin 158-0; 5, Misael Oriz, Socorro, 157-4; 6, Andrews Bristol, Franklin, 154-4; 7, David Moreno, Jefferson 153-9; 8, Zachary Cyrus Pomele, Pebble Hills, 150-4; 9, David Moreno, Coronado, 149-2; 10, Enrique Medina, Ysleta, 146-5.
Shot put: 1, David Moreno, Jefferson, 53-5.5; 2, Misael Ortiz, Socorro, 53-1.5; 3, Jonathan Lopez, Montwood, 52-11.5; 4, Garrett Strokes, Burges, 52-11; 5, Arturo Jimenez, Horizon, 51-2; 5, Johnny Cerros, Franklin 48-4; 7, Nick Kim, Americas, 48-3.5; 8, Andrew Bristol, Franklin, 48-00.50; 9, Alex Freeman, Burges, 47-10; 10, Dominque Valera, Coronado, 47-7;
High jump: 1, Caleb Gerber, Pebble Hills, 6-8; 2, Christian Matamoros, Burges, 6-7; 2, Evan Chisolm, Americas, 6-4; 4, Adrian Donacio, Eastlake, 6-2; 4, Ethan Villa, Austin, 6-2; 5, Bryan Suarez, Chapin, 6-0; 5, Alec Villa, Hanks, 6-0; 5, Ozzy Araiza, Ysleta, 6-0; 5, Matthew Flowers, Canutillo, 6-0; 5, Dayton Jamierson, Pebble Hills, 6-0; 5, Ivann Alvarez, Americas, 6-0.
Pole vault: 1, Grant Levesque, Coronado, 16-6; 2, Keith Rodriguez, Eastlake, 14-6; 3, Matthew Sanchez, Coronado, 13-8; 4, Evan Perez, Hanks, 12-6; 4, Armando Villa, Americas, 12-6; 4, Daniel Larios, Coronado, 12-6; 4, Daniel Cardenas, Mt. View, 12-6; 8, Luis Holguin, Burges, 12-0; 8, Austin Lara, Del Valle, 12-0; 8, Angel Escalera, Parkland, 12-0; 8, Peter Fogel, Chapin 12-0.
Eastlake senior Aerial Garcia was second at the Region 1-5A championship in the 1600-meter run, finishing in 5:19.21. She will compete for a UIL State title Friday night in Austin.
Franklin distance runner Eva Jess finished her season with city-best performances in the 1600 and 3200 at the Region 1-6A meet. She was fourth in the 3200 clocking in at 10:52.92 and fifth in the 1600 in 5:05.72.
Coronado senior Jennelle Jaeger-Darakjy continued her stellar season with three gold medals – 200, 400 and 800 – at the District 1-6A Championship.
She had city-best performances in the prelims and improved on those two times in the finals racing to a 24.85 in the 200-meter run and a 57.10 in the 400. She also has the city best time in the 800 (2:14.35) a mark she set last week.
Other city-best performances were:
*Chapin’s Shavontee Harris, 15.21 in the 100 hurdles.
*Chapin’s Eireann Donohoe, 5-feet, 4-inches in the high jump.
*Chapin’s 400-relay team, 49.18.
*Montwood’s 1,600-meter relay team (Mariana Porras, Camilla Gonzalez, Karen Van Valen, Sofia Ramirez), 3:59.90.
*El Dorado’s Jeramea Dennison nailed a city best 17-10.5 long jump at the San Angelo Relays on March 23.
District 1-5A Championship: Andress, Austin, Bowie, Burges, Canutillo, Chapin, El Paso, Jefferson and Irvin. April 9-12 at Austin High School.
District 2-5A Championship: Bel Air, Eastlake, Eastwood, El Dorado, Del Valle, Hanks, Horizon, Parkland, Riverside, Ysleta. April 9-12 at Socorro’s Student Activities Complex.
District 1-4A Championship: Clint, Fabens, Mt. View, San Elizario. April 11-12 at Clint.
Here the top 10 track and field female athletes in each race and field event after week 8:
Two relay teams – Eastwood’s 400 and Montwood’s 1,600 – set city best marks last week. Eastwood’s Lauryn Barlow, Elizabeth Ward, Faye Humphrey-Griffith and Kayleigh Walton improved on their own time and ran a 49.23 at the Americas Invitational while the Montwood team of Mariana Porras, Karen Van Valen, Sofia Ramirez and Camilla Gonzalez ran a 4:06.45.
Other top performances are:
*Coronado’s Jennelle Jaeger-Darakly, 2:14.35 in the 800-meter run.
*Chapin’s Plea Rohlac, 46.73 in the 300-meter hurdles.
*Chapin’s Cyan Cooper, 25.93 in the 200-meter dash.
*Franklin’s Kara Marcantel, 17-feet, 9.5 inches in the long jump.
*Chapin’s Meghan Tualamalii, 40-feet, 6 inches in the shot put.
District 1-6A Championship: 3 p.m. Thursday, April 4 and Friday, April 5; 10 a.m. Saturday, April 6 at Franklin High School. Americas, Coronado, Franklin, Pebble Hills, Montwood and Socorro.
El Dorado Invitational Boys/Girls: April 5-6 at the SAC. Eastwood, Hanks, El Dorado, Eastlake, Mt. View, Horizon.
Ysleta Boys/Girls: 2 p.m. April 5. Parkland, Bel Air, Del Valle, Riverside, Ysleta, Burges, Jefferson, Canutillo, Loretto, Cathedral, Clint.
Andress Boys/Girls: 3:30 p.m. April 5. Andress, El Paso, Irvin, Chapin, Faith, Fabens, Bowie.
Here the top 10 track and field female athletes in each race and field event after week 7:
Eastlake senior Aeriel Garcia ran a personal best 5:10.38 in the 1,600-meter run at the Chandler Rotary Invitational in Arizona. Garcia, who signed with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, took over the city’s top spot in the 1,600 with that result.
Here are more results from the Chandler Rotary Invitational in Arizona – az.milesplit.com/meets/310486/results/634144/formatted#.XJ0mxRNKii4.
Here are the results from the Cotton Relays -runnercard.com/runner/data/35045/1002374/result/Results.htm.
Americas Boys/Girls: 3 p.m. March 29 and 9 a.m. March 30 at the SAC. Eastwood, Americas, Coronado, Franklin, Eastlake, El Dorado, Loretto, Cathedral.
Parkland Boys/Girls: 3:30 p.m. March 29 and 8:30 a.m. March 30. Parkland, Bel Air, Riverside, Andress, Austin, Chapin, Irvin, Bowie, Canutillo Fabens.
Horizon Boys/Girls: 3:30 p.m. March 29 and 8:30 a.m. March 30. Ysleta, Horizon, Clint, Mt. View, Burges, El Paso, Jefferson, San Elizario, Tornillo, Ft. Hancock, Anthony.
Lubbock Invitational: March 29-30. Hanks and Pebble Hills.
Winkley-Pikes Invitational: March 29-30. Del Valle.
Here the top 10 track and field female athletes in each race and field event after week 4:
Two city-best performances occurred at out-of-town meets this past week.
Jefferson’s Karen Villa’s 46.83 time in the 300 hurdles at the Willie Williams Classic in Tucson earned her top honors in the city as did Americas distance runner Marian Guzman’s 5:11.27 time in the 1,600-meter run at the Texas Distance Festival at Southlake.
Other city best performances this week are Soledad Borgstadt from Horizon who improved on her time of 12.74 in the 100-meter run, finishing at 12:42 at the UTEP Invitational and Chapin triple jumper athlete Eireann Donohoe who leaped 36-feet, 2 inches to better her own distance.
Here are the results from the Willie Williams Classic in Tucson – finishedresults.trackscoreboard.com/index.html#/results/meet/8263
This week’s schedule is as follows:
Cotton Relays Boys/Girls: 9 a.m. Friday, March 22 at Fabens. Parkland, Del Valle, Ysleta, Fabens, Tornillo, Anthony, Faith.
Fox Country Boys and Girls Track Invitational: 9 a.m. Friday, March 22 at Jefferson’s Silver Fox Stadium. YWLA, Hanks, Bel Air, Jefferson, Coronado, Andress, Austin, El Paso, Montwood, Irvin.
Chandler Invitational: March 22-23 in Phoenix. Eastwood, Americas, El Dorado, Burges, El Paso (B).
Here the top 10 track and field female athletes in each race and field event after week 4:
The local races highlight the weekend – the UTEP Invitational, the SISD Invitational and the Fred Loya at Eastwood.
This week’s schedule is as follows:
UTEP Invitational: 3 p.m. March 15; 8:30 a.m. March 16. Riverside, Pebble Hills, Socorro, Eastlake, El Paso, Burges, Andress, Austin, Franklin, Irvin (G).
SISD Invitational Boys/Girls: 3 p.m. March 15. Parkland, Hanks, Pebble Hills, Clint, Mt. View, Horizon, Ft. Hancock.
Fred Loya Boys and Girls: March 15-16 at Eastwood. Del Valle, Eastwood, Ysleta, El Dorado, Montwood, San Elizario, Coronado, Irvin (B), Chapin, Fabens, Faith, Tornillo, Loretto, Cathedral.
Willlie Williams Classic: March 15-16 in Tucson. Bel Air, Bowie and Eastlake.
Here the top 10 track and field female athletes in each race and field event after week 4:
The third week of the season saw several athletes posting city best marks at the Burges Invitational and the Bowie/Loretto Invitational.
Franklin distance runner Eva Jess improved on her 3,200-meter time finishing first at Burges in 11:10.28. She also ran a city-best 5:14.39 in the 1,600.
Other city best performances this week were:
*Shavontee Harris, Chapin, 15.67 in the 100 hurdlers.
*Alejandra Guzman, Franklin and Eastwood’s Faye Humphrey-Griffith, 12.80 in the 100 meter dash.
*Chapin’s 800-meter relay team, 1:44.28.
*Plea Jai Roulhac, Chapin, 48.36 in the 300-meter hurdles.
*Soledad Borgstadt, Horizon, 26:04 in the 200 meters.
*Chapin’s 1,600-meter relay team, 4:10.60.
*Sarah Stuart, Franklin, 10-feet in the pole vault.
*Meghan Tualamalii, Chapin, 38 feet in the shot put.