Joseph Loredo decided to do cross country to stay in shape for wrestling. Angel Cortes only started running on the advice of his dad. A year ago, Elliot Ruiz didn’t think he would be one of the top runners on the varsity team. Cortes, Loredo and Ruiz’s paths have converged at tradition-rich San Benito, which usually fields one of the top programs in the Central Coast Section.
But after the Haybalers graduated two of their best runners in recent memory in Elijah Changco and Juan Gutierrez, and with the subtraction of standout Nolan Sanchez, who decided to forgo cross country this season, the Balers’ outlook took on more of a development season rather than one to compete for a Monterey Bay League Gabilan Division championship.
Even though Salinas is the odds-on favorite to win the title, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Balers break through. That’s because the trio of Cortes, Loredo and Ruiz is only improving with each race. In the MBL Center Meet II on Oct. 5, Loredo finished in fifth place in a personal-record 16 minutes, 46 seconds.
Ruiz and Cortes weren’t far behind, as they placed eighth and ninth, respectively, in 16:56 and 16:57.
All three runners expressed satisfaction in the times they’re running, as they’re all going one to three minutes faster at this same point from last season. That ‘s a byproduct of putting in the mileage, staying disciplined and developing a love for the sport.
In Cortes’ case, having a constant love for cross country is still a work in progress. Because of his varied interests—Cortes used to be on the school’s dance team, but he also has a passion for ceramics and cooking—he didn’t start competing in a running sport until he did track at the end of his sophomore year.
The following fall, Cortes decided to compete in cross country.
“I wasn’t into running for the longest time,” he said.
Cortes’ dad urged him to start running so he could be active like his sister, Samantha, who runs on the girls squad.
“He wanted me to do it, and I was like, ‘Sure, why not?’” Cortes said.
The 5-foot-7, 110-pound Cortes is now doing mile repeats at 5:27 per repeat, which is fast regardless but even more impressive when you consider this is only his second year of cross country.
“I don’t think about (individual) goals,” he said. “I just don’t want to die (out there). Running is hard, but it’s one of the best feelings ever when you cross the finish line with a time that you wanted.”
Loredo and Ruiz have burst onto the scene as sophomores, and they’re only getting faster. Ruiz is as surprised as anyone that he’s been able to lower his times in dramatic fashion.
“If you were going to tell me last year that I was going to run varsity this year, I wouldn’t have believed you,” he said. “
The 5-7, 135-pound Ruiz likes the dynamic of the team, as the top runners push each other in training and in races.
“If someone starts to slow down, we try to pick each other up,” he said.
Ruiz’s goal is to finish among the top seven individuals in the league championships, which would give him an automatic berth into the Central Coast Section Championships. If anything, Ruiz has the proper mindset for the sport.
“When I’m in a race, I usually tell myself it’s just a race and if I do bad, it’s not going to be the end of the world,” he said. “My mentality is to do good because if I think it will happen, it will.”
Loredo has a similar approach to running, focusing on himself rather than worry about what’s going on around him.
“I try to stay calm and focused,” he said. “If I worry about other people around me, I’m not going to end up running my race, which is not going to help me.”
Loredo already sounds like a seasoned pro, which is one of the reasons why he’s had some great results this season.
“I’m really happy with the way I and the team are running,” he said. “My goal was to break 17 (minutes) in a 5K (3.1 miles), and I’ve already done that. My second goal is to place in league.”
Loredo is the younger brother of former Balers’ wrestling standout Eric Loredo. Joseph liked wrestling until he got to high school, where he had a change of heart. In elementary and middle school, Loredo used running as a way to keep himself in shape for wrestling.
But once he decided to forgo wrestling in high school, Loredo went all in for cross country.
“I fell in love with cross country once I focused on it,” he said.
Loredo’s times are a good three minutes faster than a year ago, a huge improvement that speaks to the work he put in the off-season, where he was averaging about 40 miles per week. The 5-7, 125-pounder feels he can improve to the point where a strong finish in the CCS Championships is possible.
“If I train hard enough, I think I can do it,” he said.
In the prestigious Asics Clovis Invitational last Saturday, Ruiz finished 117th (17:13.7), Cortes 131st (17.23.4) and Loredo 134th (17.23.9). It’s a tremendous boost for all three runners that they’re running similar times, as the can properly pace each other and stay accountable to one another in training.
“It’s great because we’re next to each other in practice pushing each other to be our best all the time,” Loredo said.
