From staff reports
Medina Valley —
The San Marcos High School cross country teams opened the 2010 season with a different twist, as the team traveled to Medina Valley to compete in a relay-style meet last weekend. Teams of three ran legs of 1.5 miles each.
“It was a good change from the normal two-mile run,” SMHS head coach Eloy Collazo said.
The SMHS varsity girls put three teams on the course with the group of junior Mia Finch, freshman Nikki Sanchez and senior Solana Dever leading the way with a second-place finish out of 21 teams.
The team of junior Laura Artiles, freshman Kristen Gallegos and freshman Elayni Avalos placed ninth overall.
“That’s not bad for a team with two young ladies competing in their first varsity competition,” Collazo said.
Not far behind was the team of senior Giselle Gallegos, sophomore Risa Paredes-Juarez and sophomore Carrie Walpole, who teamed up to place 11th overall.
In the varsity boys race, sophomore Frankie Torres was all alone as he ran the first leg as an individual. He covered the two mile course in 10 minutes, 48 seconds, placing first overall.
SMHS placed second and third overall in the junior-varsity boys’ division. The second-place team consisted of Matt Hernandez, Nick Juarez, and Al Evans, followed close behind by the third-place team of Dakota Bonestele, Joey Galaviz and Austin Bryan.
The Runnin’ Rattlers are back in action Saturday when the team competes in the Lockhart Invitational, a meet with a traditionally tough field.
“This will be a tough meet with good competition and will allow runners to see where they stand with some of the best runners in the state,” Collazo said.
