HARLINGEN — Getting a chance to run on the course in Harlingen to be used for the District 32-6A cross country meet next month was a welcomed opportunity for runners from 32-6A on Saturday.
Pretty satisfying as well was coming away with team titles and individual first places in the Harlingen Invitational at the Harlingen Sports Complex on Wilson Road.
A pair of Brownsville teams emerged with team championships Saturday.
The Hanna boys won a team championship for the second straight week in a row by finishing with 56 points to come out ahead of top-five finishers PSJA Memorial (75 points), Harlingen High (79), San Benito (86) and Los Fresnos (165).
The girls team title was captured by Brownsville Veterans Memorial with 40 points. Also finishing in the top five behind the Lady Chargers were Hanna (82), Mission Veterans Memorial (102), Harlingen South (113) and Harlingen High (120).
Hanna coach Olaya Teran was pleased with the showing of her boys and girls, but added there is still more work to put in before the 32-6A meet Oct. 11 at the Harlingen Sports Complex.
“This win helps our runners know how strong they are (on this course) and what they need to do (to win at district),” Teran said. “Today gives us a little more confidence.
“District will be close,” she added. “We need to work on our fifth and sixth runners, and I think so does (district contender) Harlingen (High). The district title will go to who wants it the most.”
Jorge Medina, Brownsville Veterans’ coach, likewise said he was pleased with Saturday’s team title showing for his girls, and added there is still improvement to be made before the District 32-5A meet Oct. 17 at the Brownsville ISD Encampment.
“We ran well today, but I still feel we’re not quite where I want us to be,” Medina said. “I’m real proud of our team. It’s a great team. We just have more work to do.
“We’re a young team with a strong sophomore group,” Medina added. “I feel like our team is getting healthy and coming together at the right time. I believe we can be ready to do well at regionals and make it to state.”
The Lady Chargers won their team title Saturday despite the fact sophomore Sofia Ramirez fell on the course and didn’t come in as her squad’s second or third runner as she usually does. She is the twin sister of Cynthia Ramirez. Both are among the promising sophomore group for the Lady Chargers.
Medina had a lot of praise for Brownsville Veterans’ Valeria Gamez and Cynthia Ramirez, who finished 1-2 in the girls race in 20 minutes, 5 seconds and 20:09, respectively.
Los Fresnos’ Jasmine Ponce (20:21) was third, Harlingen High’s Victoria Scarberry (20:28) was fourth and Rivera’s Bethany Guzman (20:50) was fifth.
For the boys, PSJA Memorial’s William Macias (16:03) came in first, followed by Hanna’s John Abrego (16:13), Felipe Parra (16:28), San Benito’s Joaquin Medina (16:34) and Hanna’s Marcos Tellez (16:35).
Many Rio Grande Valley teams and others from around the state will be competing at the Round Rock McNeil meet next Saturdayat Old Settlers Park, the course for the UIL state meet, which is scheduled for Nov. 9.
Brownsville Veterans and Hanna will be among those running next weekend at the Round Rock McNeil meet.
Last week’s meet was at the BISD Encampment. The Hanna boys won that meet and the Brownsville Veterans girls took second. Previously this season, the Lady Chargers won the team title at the Edcouch-Elsa meet.
