Ceres High varsity girls cross country standout Cecilia Carretero had to settle for runner-up honors at the Western Athletic Conference championships for the third year in a row.
Cecilia expended too much energy while Patterson's Lupe Ventura was nipping at her heels.
"There was a lot of pressure on me today," said Carretero, who plans to continue her running career at the collegiate level. "This is my last year. I tried my best. But I couldn't keep up with her (Ventura) at the end. I'm not a sprinter."
Ventura, a first-year runner, posted a time of 21 minutes, 9 seconds on the 3.l-mile course at Ceres River Bluff Regional Park last Wednesday.
Carretero finished the race in 21:33.
Lupe pulled away during the last 200 yards.
Carretero held a slight lead while making her way up the course's concrete hill.
"I could hear her breathing the entire time," Cecilia said. "It made it feel like a long race. I should have stayed behind her, had her do all the work and passed her at the end. She pushed me to go faster. I thought she was going to slow down. I think that was her plan."
Ventura and Carretero finished 1-2 at the Ceres High-Patterson WAC dual meet earlier this season.
"I still have track," said Cecilia, who received an all-league patch in cross country for the third straight year. "I might compete against her (Ventura) again."
Ceres High totaled 63 points on its way to a third-place finish behind Los Banos (49) and Livingston (56) at the WAC finals.
Bulldog runners Lisette Carretero (22:21), Dia Borden (22:40), Jeanette Torrez (24:47) and Laura Espinoza (24:32) took eighth, ninth, 20th and 24th, respectively.
"We did pretty good as a team," Cecilia Carretero said.
Central Valley's girls (189 points) placed last.
Citlalli Soltero (35th place, 25:45) led the Hawks.
Laura Aguilar (39th, 26:05), Harpreet Kaur (41st, 26:11), Casandra Maldonado (43rd, 26:30) and Catrina Castillo (46th, 26:59) also competed.
BOYS RESULTS
Ceres High junior Judas Chavarin posted a season-best time of 18 minutes, 19 seconds while finishing in 10th place at the Western Athletic Conference varsity boys cross country championships last week at Ceres River Bluff Regional Park.
The top eight individuals earned all-league honors.
"I tried my best," Chavarin said. "I don't think I could give more. I'm too tired. I'm happy with my time. But I didn't get the (WAC) patch."
Ceres High (107) and crosstown-rival Central Valley (151) finished fifth and sixth, respectively.
Livingston (26), Pacheco (70), Patterson (85), Los Banos (90) and Central Catholic (183) placed first, second, third, fourth and seventh.
"It was tougher this year," Chavarin said. "Everybody got faster. I want to do better. I need to train harder. I'm going to try to sign up for events during the offseason."
Ceres High's top five finishers were Chavarin, Ryan Gustin (15th, 19:09), Kevin Rameriz (25th, 19:55), Brett Gonzalez (33rd, 20:31) and Edgar Torres (35th, 20:37).
Central Valley's Roberto Aguilar (19:38), Nick Gonzalez (20:16), Michael Collins (20:31), Francisco Gradilla (21:58) and Julian Camarillo (23:08) took 20th, 27th, 32nd, 48th and 55th, respectively.
Hawk standout Ben Saldana did not compete. He tore a tendon in his right foot in the weeks leading up to the WAC championships.
Cecilia expended too much energy while Patterson's Lupe Ventura was nipping at her heels.
"There was a lot of pressure on me today," said Carretero, who plans to continue her running career at the collegiate level. "This is my last year. I tried my best. But I couldn't keep up with her (Ventura) at the end. I'm not a sprinter."
Ventura, a first-year runner, posted a time of 21 minutes, 9 seconds on the 3.l-mile course at Ceres River Bluff Regional Park last Wednesday.
Carretero finished the race in 21:33.
Lupe pulled away during the last 200 yards.
Carretero held a slight lead while making her way up the course's concrete hill.
"I could hear her breathing the entire time," Cecilia said. "It made it feel like a long race. I should have stayed behind her, had her do all the work and passed her at the end. She pushed me to go faster. I thought she was going to slow down. I think that was her plan."
Ventura and Carretero finished 1-2 at the Ceres High-Patterson WAC dual meet earlier this season.
"I still have track," said Cecilia, who received an all-league patch in cross country for the third straight year. "I might compete against her (Ventura) again."
Ceres High totaled 63 points on its way to a third-place finish behind Los Banos (49) and Livingston (56) at the WAC finals.
Bulldog runners Lisette Carretero (22:21), Dia Borden (22:40), Jeanette Torrez (24:47) and Laura Espinoza (24:32) took eighth, ninth, 20th and 24th, respectively.
"We did pretty good as a team," Cecilia Carretero said.
Central Valley's girls (189 points) placed last.
Citlalli Soltero (35th place, 25:45) led the Hawks.
Laura Aguilar (39th, 26:05), Harpreet Kaur (41st, 26:11), Casandra Maldonado (43rd, 26:30) and Catrina Castillo (46th, 26:59) also competed.
BOYS RESULTS
Ceres High junior Judas Chavarin posted a season-best time of 18 minutes, 19 seconds while finishing in 10th place at the Western Athletic Conference varsity boys cross country championships last week at Ceres River Bluff Regional Park.
The top eight individuals earned all-league honors.
"I tried my best," Chavarin said. "I don't think I could give more. I'm too tired. I'm happy with my time. But I didn't get the (WAC) patch."
Ceres High (107) and crosstown-rival Central Valley (151) finished fifth and sixth, respectively.
Livingston (26), Pacheco (70), Patterson (85), Los Banos (90) and Central Catholic (183) placed first, second, third, fourth and seventh.
"It was tougher this year," Chavarin said. "Everybody got faster. I want to do better. I need to train harder. I'm going to try to sign up for events during the offseason."
Ceres High's top five finishers were Chavarin, Ryan Gustin (15th, 19:09), Kevin Rameriz (25th, 19:55), Brett Gonzalez (33rd, 20:31) and Edgar Torres (35th, 20:37).
Central Valley's Roberto Aguilar (19:38), Nick Gonzalez (20:16), Michael Collins (20:31), Francisco Gradilla (21:58) and Julian Camarillo (23:08) took 20th, 27th, 32nd, 48th and 55th, respectively.
Hawk standout Ben Saldana did not compete. He tore a tendon in his right foot in the weeks leading up to the WAC championships.
