San Benito High cross country runners had the chance to try out
their uniforms and set new times Thursday during the Red and White
meet at Park Hill.
n By NATHAN MIXTER Sports Editor
Hollister – San Benito High cross country runners had the chance to try out their uniforms and set new times Thursday during the Red and White meet at Park Hill.
About 30 athletes are on the team, but not everyone competed.
“I didn’t want to have them go out there for the first time,” said coach Jess Morales. “But everyone raced well. Right now the times aren’t important. The way the kids conducted themselves was pretty impressive. Just to finish that course is a big accomplishment.”
Park Hill, a 3.1 mile course, is not the easiest of courses to run with its many hills.
“It is more being mentally tough because you are continually running the same loop and it doesn’t get any easier,” Morales said. “It is all about improving each time.”
Morales and coach Cuco Chavez stood at each end encouraging runners as they went by.
Sophomore Alfredo Lopez, who was behind most of the race, came back and won with a time of 18:25.
“I was trying to catch them the whole time,” Lopez said. “I was surprised when I caught them at the end.”
Rigo Vasquez, a sophomore, was one of the runners who ran with the pack of Balers who finished toward the top.
“We were trying to work together,” Vasquez said. “We were encouraging each other and pushing each other.”
Jamie O’brian and Jamila Saqqa were the top female athletes in the race.
San Benito will compete in a Tri-County Athletic League Jamboree on Sept. 8 at Toro Park.
