Central Valley High School's varsity boys cross country team managed to edge out crosstown-rival Ceres High this past week despite competing shorthanded.
The Hawks, missing two key runners for unspecified reasons, earned a narrow 26-29 Western Athletic Conference dual meet victory while battling the Bulldogs on Wednesday at Ceres River Bluff Regional Park.
"We're just glad to get another win," Hawks head coach Mike Reynolds said.
Central Valley's top five finishers were Hawk Duarte, Raul Castro, Alex Hernandez, Francisco Gradilla and Alex Tovar.
Duarte, a first-year runner, took second.
Castro, Hernandez, Gradilla and Tovar placed third, fourth, seventh and 10th.
"We talked before the race," Duarte said. "We tried to pump each other up. We didn't want to lose to Ceres High. They're our rival. I didn't think we were going to win. But we stepped it up."
Ceres High's Judas Chavarin was the individual winner.
Bret Gonzalez, Manuel Baez, Manuel Hernandez and Lorenzo Trinidad finished fifth, sixth, eight and ninth, respectively.
The Hawks and Bulldogs placed fifth (2-4) and sixth (1-5), respectively, in the WAC standings.
"I knew it was going to be close," Reynolds said. "They have some pretty, good runners. The nice thing about us is we have a solid, core group."
Ceres High School's varsity girls cross country team defeated Central Valley decisively, 15-48, on Wednesday at Ceres River Bluff Regional Park.
"It felt like a practice race," said Cecilia Carretero, the Bulldogs' best runner.
Ceres High won four of six dual meets en route to a third-place finish in the WAC.
The Hawks took sixth with a 1-5 mark.
Cecilia Carretero, Bryce Ford, Lisette Carretero, Dia Borden and Viviana Ramirez placed first, second, third, fourth and fifth, respectively, against their crosstown rival.
The Hawks' top competitor was Andrea Rodriguez (sixth place).
Central Valley teammates Cassandra Maldonado, Miriam Gontiz, Karina Magana and Elizabeth Rodriguez finished ninth, 10th, 11th and 12th, respectively.
"I figured we'd win," Cecilia Carretero said. "We were motivated."
The Hawks, missing two key runners for unspecified reasons, earned a narrow 26-29 Western Athletic Conference dual meet victory while battling the Bulldogs on Wednesday at Ceres River Bluff Regional Park.
"We're just glad to get another win," Hawks head coach Mike Reynolds said.
Central Valley's top five finishers were Hawk Duarte, Raul Castro, Alex Hernandez, Francisco Gradilla and Alex Tovar.
Duarte, a first-year runner, took second.
Castro, Hernandez, Gradilla and Tovar placed third, fourth, seventh and 10th.
"We talked before the race," Duarte said. "We tried to pump each other up. We didn't want to lose to Ceres High. They're our rival. I didn't think we were going to win. But we stepped it up."
Ceres High's Judas Chavarin was the individual winner.
Bret Gonzalez, Manuel Baez, Manuel Hernandez and Lorenzo Trinidad finished fifth, sixth, eight and ninth, respectively.
The Hawks and Bulldogs placed fifth (2-4) and sixth (1-5), respectively, in the WAC standings.
"I knew it was going to be close," Reynolds said. "They have some pretty, good runners. The nice thing about us is we have a solid, core group."
Ceres High School's varsity girls cross country team defeated Central Valley decisively, 15-48, on Wednesday at Ceres River Bluff Regional Park.
"It felt like a practice race," said Cecilia Carretero, the Bulldogs' best runner.
Ceres High won four of six dual meets en route to a third-place finish in the WAC.
The Hawks took sixth with a 1-5 mark.
Cecilia Carretero, Bryce Ford, Lisette Carretero, Dia Borden and Viviana Ramirez placed first, second, third, fourth and fifth, respectively, against their crosstown rival.
The Hawks' top competitor was Andrea Rodriguez (sixth place).
Central Valley teammates Cassandra Maldonado, Miriam Gontiz, Karina Magana and Elizabeth Rodriguez finished ninth, 10th, 11th and 12th, respectively.
"I figured we'd win," Cecilia Carretero said. "We were motivated."
