By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
The most decorated athletic program at Del Rio High School has been toiling for weeks under the blistering Texas sun with the goal of a return to state always in the back of their minds.
Del Rio High School’s cross-country program has been represented at the annual State meet each of the last 17 years. Last year it was sophomore Emily Torres, the District 30-6A girls champion, who carried the Del Rio banner to Old Settlers Park in Round Rock to extend a streak that began under former head coach Ric Smith and is now overseen by head coach Vicky Perez.
Perez said Torres is one of the top runners in the program this year, along with seniors Kimberly Gloria and Mikael Perez and junior Ely Losoya, who was the lone Del Rio boys runner to qualify for the regional meet. The hope is that elite core of runners can help Del Rio make it 18 years in a row they are represented at state.
“Both teams have been putting the work in and both will be teams to look out for. I strongly believe in them and know they will step up,” Perez said. “Our running conditions are pretty intense here in Del Rio with the heat so we stress nutrition, hydration, sleep and all the little things in between that help them get through workouts. Our kids also know what is expected and we always tell them summer miles bring fall smiles so they know that cross country season starts in the summer months so they start putting their miles in and log them to the Strava app where we are able to see their runs. Getting a workout in the Buena Vista pool Tuesdays/Thursday also helps with the heat and the kids enjoy it.”
Perez is no stranger to the cross-country program here in Del Rio. The streak predates her time as an educator in Del Rio – 16 years for her, 17 years for the streak. She enters this year as head coach for the eighth year, and she’s tackled the challenge of returning to Round Rock each year with the same fire and determination as she did her first year as head coach.
“The State streak is always going to be in the back of our minds as coaches. The athletes also know how high the expectations are for our sport when it comes to competing at the highest level and having this streak. Their mindset is to still be practicing once November comes,” Perez said. “With that said, however, we do focus on getting better at each meet that we attend and staying healthy throughout the season. Once district is approaching we focus on what we need to do and accomplish to get the district title and then go from there.”
The path to a district title got a little easier with the departure of Laredo Nixon. Nixon. Nixon’s boys were the district runners-up last season, keeping Del Rio’s boys, who finished fourth, from advancing to the regional meet.
Perez said Nixon’s departure opens things up for Del Rio, but that doesn’t guarantee any kind of success for the Rams or Queens when that opportunity arises.
“Laredo Nixon has a great team and I wish them well at the 5A level. With them leaving our district it helps since the top three teams advance to the regional championships. Although, when it comes to our sport, our kids get one shot; no second chances and so they have to want it and show up that day. Sometimes it goes the way we all know it will and sometimes we know which team or individual wanted it more and showed up to race!” Perez said.
Saturday Del Rio’s runners will get to put their talents on display as they officially open their 2022 season with the Del Rio High School Invitational Cross-Country Meet. Varsity, junior varsity and middle school runners will compete in races throughout the morning in and around Walter Levermann Ram Stadium.
The first race is scheduled for 8 a.m. It will feature the varsity girls, varsity boys and junior varsity boys. Smaller schools and junior varsity girls will run at 8:30 a.m. Middle school girls in seventh and eighth grades will run at 9 a.m., followed by middle school boys at 9:30 a.m. Awards will be presented at 10:15 a.m.
This will be the only chance local fans will get to see the Del Rio runners compete on their home turf, so there may be some pressure on the Rams and Queens to succeed, but Perez knows how special this meet is to her runners and their supporters.
“We try to host a meet here in Del Rio so that everyone can attend and watch their son or daughter compete as the rest of our schedule is away. This meet always lets us know, as coaches, where we are and what we need to focus and work on for the remainder of the season. I believe the kids enjoy it as well and are excited and want to do their best in front of their families and community,” Perez said.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
