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Del Rio seeks to continue district dominance
Published October 29, 2009
Del Rio’s boys’ team is looking for its eighth consecutive district title Saturday at the District 29-5A Cross-Country Meet.
The meet is scheduled to begin with the varsity girls’ race at 10 a.m. at the Del Rio Middle School campus off U.S. Highway 90 East.
The varsity boys will run at 10:30 a.m. followed by the junior varsity girls’ race at 11 a.m., the junior varsity boys’ race at 11:30 a.m. and the freshmen race at noon.
Del Rio’s varsity teams are the defending district champions, but it’s the boys’ streak that the other seven teams in the district will be looking to break.
The team began its streak during its days in District 27-5A before continuing last year – the first in District 29-5A.
While the varsity team hasn’t officially been set for Saturday’s meet, head coach Ric Smith said there is a pool of 10 runners that will make up the seven-person team. Included in that group are seniors Justin Garcia, Carlos Jimenez, Isaac Treviño, Jose Gonzalez and Jimmy Van Gorkam, sophomores Juan Rojas and Adriel Govea and freshmen David Calderon and Gilbert Terraza.
“This should be a four-team battle for the district championship between us, Eagle Pass High, Laredo Alexander and Laredo United South. We are the defending district champions and each year the target gets bigger on our backs and teams run their best races against our boys. Eagle Pass was within two points of winning our invitational on Oct. 10,” Smith said.
Smith said that his choice of runners for the varsity team may come down to who is the healthiest as some of the runners are battling nagging injuries. But, Smith explained, whichever seven he goes with has the potential to all finish among the top 15 and guarantee an eighth consecutive title.
“Laredo Alexander will bring two of the best runners in the state as part of their team. Eagle Pass has seven solid runners, as does United South. Laredo United will bring two top 10 runners and will challenge for the third regional qualifying spot,” Smith said.
Del Rio’s varsity girls know what it’s like to be the hunted as well. They are the two-time defending district champions, but Smith expects a stiff challenge from several of the teams this year including Laredo Alexander, Laredo United and Laredo United South.
Much like the boys team, the girls’ team will also be comprised of seven girls from a pool of 10. They include seniors Eileen Vargas, Olivia Dominguez and Alejandra Lopez, junior Gloria Ramirez, sophomores Candida Chairez, Vanessa Galindo and Elsa Garza, and freshmen Annie Garcia, Samantha Munderback and Bianca Renteria.
“More than likely we will run only two seniors meaning five of the girls will be underclassmen going into the regional meet,” Smith said. “Laredo Alexander, which will bring several potential top 10 runners, should be a top three finisher along with Laredo United or United South. But our girls team has the potential to run all seven runners in the top 10 which would be an impressive statement going into the regional meet Nov. 7.”
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