Pearsall earns cross country sweep to open season

By Manuel Azocar III - Sports Writer/Managing Editor | August 25, 2022

MAVERICK INVITATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY MEET

Pearsall swept the girls’ and boys’ divisions, earning first place trophies in each as the team dominated the field at the annual Maverick Cross Country Invitational meet on Saturday, August 20.
Dilley’s Wolves and Lady Wolves were both second overall in each division although Xavier Hernandez was the overall varsity boys’ champion.
Cotulla’s Cowgirls were fourth overall at the event but Carisa Rodriguez was crowned the overall girls’ champion in her division.
The Lady Mavs have five runners finish in the top ten while the Mavericks added six runners in the top 15 in claiming both team titles.
“I am very pleased with the performances we had this past weekend to kick off the season,” New Pearsall Cross Country Head Coach Ricky Medrano said. “All our teams went out there and competed hard, resulting in three first place team finishes.”
Pearsall’s junior varsity Lady Mavs also claimed their team title.

Pearsall’s Emma Hernandez makes a furious kick down the final stretch of her race at the Pearsall Invitational Cross Country meet on Saturday, August 20. Hernandez finished eighth overall at the event and helped her team captured the team title in the opening meet of the year. Teammate Lorena Trevino (center) was tenth overall for the Lady Mavs. (CURRENT photo: Manuel Azocar III)

“The varsity girls and boys both worked great as a team collectively, and took a big step forward in terms of progress,” Medrano said.
Pearsall results are as follows: girls’ division, Ebony Garza, second, 13:45, Makayla Smart, fifth, 14:06, Layla Torres, sixth, 14:13, Emma Hernandez, eighth, 14:36, Lorena Trevino, tenth, 14:40; varsity boys’ results, Romeo Vega, second, 18:13, Chris Martinez, fifth, 19:31, CJ Garza, sixth, 19:39, Alejandro Briseno, seventh, 19:58, Jonathan Viesca, eighth, 20:00, Jevan Torres, 15th, 22:09.
DHS Head Coach Victor Flores was also pleased with his team’s effort in the season opening meet.
“Overall, we displayed a good first meet to get our feet wet,” he said. “On the boys side, sophomore Xavier Hernandez was the individual champion in the varsity boys’ division.
“On the girls side, we’re very excited to be rebuilding a girls’ cross country program this year and for the years to come. In the last couple of years we’ve only had one girl, and we went out and got some girls to run to equal seven now.”
Flores noted that early season injuries have hampered his boys’ team.
“We’re missing a few guys on our boys’ side that are recovering from injuries that will help us here in the near future,” he said. “I’m excited for what’s to come for Dilley Cross Country.”
Dilley girls’ results are as follows: Chloe Rodriguez, fourth, 14:00, Jewlea Tate, seventh, 14:26, Rene Rocha, 14th, 15:42, Maddie Proctor, 18th, 17:10, Janessa Mendes, 23rd, 19:40; varsity boys’ results are as follows: Xavier Hernandez, first, 18:07, Brazos Viesca, third, 18:53, Anthony Guerra, fourth, 19:15, Jorge Herrera, 11th, 20:28, Jacob Garcia, 14th, 22:05.
Cotulla’s girls stepped up in a big way on Saturday and freshman Carisa Rodriguez paced the team with a first place finish.
“She ran a great race and won the varsity girls division,” CHS Head Coach Jose Olvera said. “I am proud of these kids and appreciate the parents who showed up to support Cotulla.”
CHS girls’ results are as follows: Carisa Rodriguez, first, 13:35, Isabella Gonzales, 15th, 16:14, Alessandra Garcia, 19th, 17:21, Jaylyn Del Toro, 21st, 19:16, Maggie Alba, 22nd, 19:16.
Pearsall’s Lady Mavs dominated the JV field, taking first overall as Izaely O’Valle earned the individual title.
JV girls’ results are as follows: Izaely O’Valle, Pearsall, first, 15:37, Shalynn Vera, Pearsall, second, 16:04, Isabel Gutierrez, Klarissa Vasquez, Dilley, third, 17:35, Pearsall, fourth, 17:46, Bella Proctor, Dilley, ninth, 23:24.
JV boys’ results are as follows: Ayden Rodriguez, Pearsall, first, 12:20, Paul Gonzales, Cotulla, second, 12:23, Angel Martinez, Pearsall, third, 12:31, Steven Herrera, Pearsall, fourth, 12:50, Aiden Lucio, Pearsall, fifth, 12:51.
Pearsall and Dilley will be in action at the Panther Invitational Cross Country meet this Saturday in Castroville while Cotulla will be at the Border Olympics Cross Country meet in Laredo Saturday morning.