By Joel Langton
The 830 Times
A week after dominating their own invitational meet, the Del Rio Rams and Queens cross country teams traveled to Corpus Christi for one of the state’s largest races and fared well against a loaded field.
The Rams finished seventh among 37 scoring teams in the Gold Division at Saturday’s Islander Splash XC Invite, hosted by Texas A&M–Corpus Christi.
Vicky Perez, Del Rio High School cross country coach, was pleased with the team’s finishes across the board.
“I was pleased with their effort on the course. I could see them actually racing and not just staying in their comfort zones,” Perez said. “I told them to race in the front and fight to hang on for as long as possible.
“Some kids PR’d (set a personal record) and others did not, but every course is different, so times will vary from course to course.”
Junior Ray Torres led the Rams, finishing 15th among 285 runners in the Boys Gold 5K. Torres completed the course in 16 minutes, 30.11 seconds, about five seconds off the 16:25.26 he ran while winning the Del Rio XC Invitational.
Junior Alexavier Medina was Del Rio’s second finisher, placing 33rd in 17:11.38. Junior Jesus Robles was 63rd in 17:42.34.
Senior Daniel Perez finished 95th in 18:06.61, and sophomore Emiliano Zuniga followed in 99th at 18:07.99. Those five runners accounted for Del Rio’s team score.
Senior Isau Salazar rounded out the Rams’ Gold Division runners, placing 175th in 19:14.59.
The Queens finished 27th among 34 scoring teams in the Girls Gold Division with 698 points.
Junior Celeste Garcia paced Del Rio, placing 61st among 274 runners with a 5K time of 21:41.61.
Junior Hailey Dobbins finished 145th in 23:32.10, followed closely by sophomore Amya Mendoza, who placed 146th in 23:32.67.
Senior Bella Montemayor was 185th in 24:14.46, and sophomore Abigail Leonor finished 208th in 24:48.48.
Del Rio also entered runners in the meet’s Blue divisions.
Freshman Tyler Lopez led the Del Rio boys in the Blue 5K, placing 76th in 19:43.69. Senior Reynaldo De Los Santos was 112th in 20:27.40, and sophomore Arturo Resendiz-Ibarra placed 130th in 20:45.88.
Junior Diego Martinez finished 145th in 21:05.44; junior Landon Leyva was 152nd in 21:16.30; freshman Tristan Sandoval was 155th in 21:19.78; and freshman Izaiah Cedillo placed 168th in 21:33.04.
Junior Daniel Abreu finished 184th in 21:50.17, followed by junior Luis Ricardo Leija in 186th at 21:51.85.
In the Girls Blue two-mile race, senior Ellyana Gauna led Del Rio by placing 60th in 13:24.63.
Junior Ava Jimenez was 97th in 13:49.02, and junior Marianna Quintero placed 124th in 14:10.41.
Sophomore Yulianna Martinez finished 143rd in 14:26.88; freshman Violet Hernandez was 152nd in 14:35.46; freshman Camila Martinez placed 189th in 15:13.17; and freshman Isabella Flores finished 196th in 15:20.07.
Del Rio results
Boys Gold 5K
Team finish — Del Rio, seventh out of 37 scoring teams, 288 points.
Place 15 — Ray Torres, junior, 16:30.11
Place 33 — Alexavier Medina, junior, 17:11.38
Place 63 — Jesus Robles, junior, 17:42.34
Place 95 — Daniel Perez, senior, 18:06.61
Place 99 — Emiliano Zuniga, sophomore, 18:07.99
Place 175 — Isau Salazar, senior, 19:14.59
Girls Gold 5K
Team finish — Del Rio, 27th out of 34 scoring teams, 698 points.
Place 61 — Celeste Garcia, junior, 21:41.61
Place 145 — Hailey Dobbins, junior, 23:32.10
Place 146 — Amya Mendoza, sophomore, 23:32.67
Place 185 — Bella Montemayor, senior, 24:14.46
Place 208 — Abigail Leonor, sophomore, 24:48.48
Boys Blue 5K
Place 76 — Tyler Lopez, freshman, 19:43.69
Place 112 — Reynaldo De Los Santos, senior, 20:27.40
Place 130 — Arturo Resendiz-Ibarra, sophomore, 20:45.88
Place 145 — Diego Martinez, junior, 21:05.44
Place 152 — Landon Leyva, junior, 21:16.30
Place 155 — Tristan Sandoval, freshman, 21:19.78
Place 168 — Izaiah Cedillo, freshman, 21:33.04
Place 184 — Daniel Abreu, junior, 21:50.17
Place 186 — Luis Ricardo Leija, junior, 21:.85
Girls Blue two-mile
Place 60 — Ellyana Gauna, senior, 13:24.63
Place 97 — Ava Jimenez, junior, 13:49.02
Place 124 — Marianna Quintero, junior, 14:10.41
Place 143 — Yulianna Martinez, sophomore, 14:26.88
Place 152 — Violet Hernandez, freshman, 14:35.46
Place 189 — Camila Martinez, freshman, 15:13.17
Place 196 — Isabella Flores, freshman, 15:20.07
