SPORTS — Del Rio runners kick off new cross-country season

By Brian Argabright

The 830 Times

EDITOR’S NOTE: Names and times were provided by local coaches. Not all names were available as of press time.

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Even without competition, the Del Rio High cross-country team still put forth its maximum effort in front of friends, family and fans at the team’s inaugural meet of the season.

The annual Del Rio Invitational Cross-Country Meet Saturday did not feature any teams above Class 3A except for Del Rio. That left the Rams and Queens runners competing in a time trial to set marks to beat for the rest of the season.

Despite not having head-to-head competition in the varsity divisions, Del Rio’s runners still battled it out for bragging rights and the prestigious gold medals.

In the boys’ varsity division, Eli Losoya led a pack of 10 Rams runners across the finish line. He completed the 5K course that snaked through the field behind Walter Levermann Ram Stadium and eventually ended inside the stadium on the all-weather track in a time of 16:53.59. Second place, and the silver medal, went to Jonathan Mendoza who finished in a time of 17:00.94.

The battle for third and fourth place was a close one. Eventually, Alex Rodriguez edged Samuel Curtis by less than a second, 17:26.62 to 17:27.47.

Rounding out the top 10 were Abraham Garcia (5^th, 18:29.62), Antonio Padilla (6^th, 18:34.62), Adrian Garcia (7^th, 18:39.44), Leonardo Rogel (8^th, 19:12.47), Eric Carriaga (9^th, 20:05.72) and Jose Gonzales (20:06.00).

The varsity girls also competed against the junior varsity runners as they battled to see who the top runner would be. It was Emily Torres who took the top spot in a time of 19:41.88. Torres has competed at the state meet each of the past two years and was district champion in 2021.

Ryland Ross took second place in 21:50.09. Finishing third was Keziah Bishop in 21:54.44. Fourth place went to Cynthia Rubio in 22:05.34, and fifth place belonged to Reba Salinas in 22:47.31.

Rounding out the top 10 were Alexa Sanchez (6^th, 23:21.00), Payton Becker (7^th, 24:44.84), Kaylie Morales (8^th, 24:59.12), Nereyda Martinez (9^th, 25:07.41) and Carolyn Leija (25:25.53).

Fifteen Del Rio runners competed in the varsity girls’ 5K race. Finishing the group were Bella Montemayor (11^th, 26:40.34), Zoey Martinez (12^th, 27:37.44), Camila Fernandez (13^th, 28:50.28), Arianna Martinez (14^th, 29:05.44) and Camila Berain (15^th, 33:13.00).

The junior varsity boys 5K race pitted Del Rio’s sub-varsity runners against runners from nearby Comstock and Brackettville. Comstock would be the toughest competition as five of its runners competed in last year’s state meet in Round Rock.

That experience paid off for the Panthers as Sebastian Talamantez finished first overall in a time of 17:08.53. He was one of three Panthers runners to finish in the top five, joined by Edgar Crane, who took third in 18:40.91, and Jordan Allen, who was fifth in 18:58.15.

Del Rio’s Jose Martinez took second in 18:32.18. Teammate Alex Perez was fourth in 18:41.15.

Brackett’s Matthew Schwander was the Tigers’ top finisher as he crossed the finish line in sixth place in 18:58.40.

The rest of the top 10 included Del Rio’s Julian Dominguez (7^th, 19:09.75) and Luis Rodriguez (8^th, 19:26.81), Brackett’s J Balderas (9^th, 19:31.34) and Del Rio’s Daniel Perez (10^th, 19:38.50).

Forty-five runners competed in the JV Boys/Small School 5K.

Del Rio’s runners included Julyus Calderon (11^th, 19:51.25), Eric Garcia (12^th, 20:13.56), Alfredo Garcia (13^th, 20:14.43), Abraham Cardenas (16^th, 20:35.31), Zach Palazuelos (17^th, 20:36.84), Reynaldo De Los Santos (18^th, 20:42.12), Santiago Pacheco (19^th, 20:44.84), Andres Garcia (20^th, 21:25.34), Nicolai Kalinchuk (23^rd, 21:59.78), David Perez (26^th, 22:35.59), Alex Martinez (27^th, 22:55.44), Valdemar Hernandez (28^th, 22:58.02), Owen Southam (30^th, 23:01.18), Sebastian Rodriguez (31^st, 23:02.50), Michael Carriaga (34^th, 23:19.66), Antonio Scott (37^th, 24:51.81) and Joaquin Taylor (40^th, 26:14.31).

Comstock’s runners included Noah Bahena (14^th, 20:17.84), Gerardo Ibarra (15^th, 20:20.34), Gerardo Garcia (22^nd, 21:46.59), Mauro Lopez (24^th, 22:13.28), Neal Billings (25^th, 22:22.25), Creed Hardin (29^th, 22:58.81), Hector Medina (32^nd, 23:11.28), Larry Kaler (43^rd, 29:17.38) and D Hernandez (44^th, 30:47.44).

Brackett’s runners included Hayes Bonner (21^st, 21:46.15), Cohen Bonner (33^rd, 23:12.15), J Preach (35^th, 23:49.06), Ande Rendon (36^th, 23:49.62), C Makast (38^th, 25:27.06), J Lewis (39^th, 26:03.94), Benjamin Laub (41^st, 27:06.00) and Coby Laub (42^nd, 27:06.93).

The middle school boys race featured both seventh and eighth graders competing. Thirty runners from Del Rio, Brackett and Comstock took part.

Del Rio took the first top 10 spots in the race led by Ray Torres who was the only runner to cross the finish line in less than 12 minutes. He led the pack with a time of 11:51.62.

Rounding out the top 10 for Del Rio were Jacob Saucedo (2^nd, 12:02.59), Leonel Cavazos (3^rd, 12:43.34), Ethan Jurado (4^th, 12:55.34), Jesus Robles (5^th, 13:18.44), Emiliano Zuniga (6^th, 13:27.06), Alexavier Medina (7^th, 13:42.75), Landon Leyva (8^th, 13:46.84), B Velaco (9^th, 13:50.75) and Lucas Bryan (10^th, 14:09.15).

Del Rio’s team also included J Robles (13^th, 14:36.75), Erick Barrera (15^th, 14:50.69), Alan Huerta (16^th, 15:09.15), L Bryant (17^th, 15:11.00), Juan Yanez (18^th, 15:11.37), Victor Villarreal (23^rd, 16:54.41), Luis Galvan (25^th, 17:47.88), and L Riemann (27^th, 18:30.66).

Comstock’s top runner was J Allen (11^th, 14:17.06). The Panthers also included J Perez (12^th, 14:28.94), I Diaz (14^th, 14:41.12), C Salas (19^th, 15:12.00), R Martinez (21^st, 16:00.66), W Chandelier (24^th, 17:17.94), T Breckenridge (26^th, 18:24.62), S Cater (28^th, 21:24.59), J Gonzales (29^th, 21:28.31) and S Medina (30^th, 27:21.00)

Brackett’s top runner was A Aguirre, who finished 10^th in 15:54.59. He was joined by R Reeves (22^nd, 16:01.90).

Del Rio once again showed its cross-country prowess in the middle school girls seventh and eighth grade race as the top 10 finishers all called Del Rio Middle School home.

Xitlali Vasquez took first in 13:48.59. She was the only girl to complete the course in less than 14 minutes.

Celeste Garcia (2nd, 14:05.45), Karissa Martinez (3^rd, 14:46.84), Sophia Rodriguez (4^th, 15:02.59), Reagan Becker (5^th, 15:31.70), Anna Curtis (6^th, 16:11.24), Valentina Contreras (7^th, 16:12.12), Galilea Hernandez (8^th, 16:13.56), Desiree Perez (9^th, 16:31.34) and Maria Ramon (10^th, 16:31.67) rounded out the top 10.

Del Rio’s team also included Natalia Bosko (11^th, 16:34.17), A Mendoza (12^th, 16:47.45), Nelly Zavala (15^th, 17:49.17), Ava Jimenez (16^th, 17:49.87), Olivia Taylor (17^th, 17:50.77), Scotlin Grant (19^th, 18:55.27), H Rosas (20^th, 19:03.99) and Yuliana Martinez (24^th, 21:12.34)

Comstock’s top runner was C Kennedy, who took 13^th in 17:23.77. She was joined by E Lopez (14^th, 17:24.09), K Perez (18^th, 18:43.34), Sofia Flores (21^st, 19:39.45), and Alexis Guajardo (22^nd, 19:58.56).

Brackett’s top finisher was H Rosas, who was 20^th in 19:03.99. She was joined by Molinar, who was 23^rd in 20:19.34.

Del Rio’s varsity and junior varsity teams will compete in Medina Valley this weekend. The middle school runners will compete in Uvalde.

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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com