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Bulldog runners extend their seasons
• CHS sophomore boys cross country team finishes sixth at sub-sections
Diana Del Real
A newcomer to the sport of cross country, senior Diana Del Real fell 4 seconds short of qualifying for the Sac-Joaquin Section Championships.

Ceres High’s cross country program had a success-filled day at the Sac-Joaquin Division-III Sub-Section Championships this past weekend.

“I’m very excited with the performance,” Bulldogs’ coach Katie Thiele said. “We have nine kids moving on to sections. We’re filling up more than one van.”

Ceres High’s sophomore boys team extended its season after tying for sixth place at sub-sections, staged Nov. 9 at Frogtown in Angels Camp.

“This is my first boys team to qualify in five years. I knew they had a good chance to move on as a team. It all depended on the fourth and fifth runners.”
coach Katie Thiele

“This is my first boys team to qualify in five years,” Thiele said. “I knew they had a good chance to move on as a team. It all depended on the fourth and fifth runners.”

Ronaldo Flores led the Bulldogs.

He was awarded a ninth-place medal.

He posted a time of 12 minutes, 15 seconds on the 2-mile course.

“He probably could have qualified in the varsity race,” Thiele said.

Ceres High teammates Elijah Vas Dinis (13:24), Daniel Gonzalez (13:53), Eduardo Ortiz (14:58) and Blake Barr (16:26) took 25th, 32nd, 45th and 63rd, respectively.

Ceres High’s frosh-soph girls team had three runners advance to sections.

Karina Baez, Esmeralda Garcia and Stephanie Hernandez all brought home medals.

Baez placed second with a time of 14:48 on the 2-mile course.

Garcia (14:52) and Hernandez (16:32) finished third and 19th, respectively.

“I knew Karina and Esmeralda had a really good shot at moving on,” Thiele said. “They’ve been working so hard and have so much talent. I was surprised most with Stephanie because she took most of the season off with an injury and still qualified. The exciting part is they’re all going to return to the team next year.”

Ceres High’s varsity boys team had one runner qualify for sections in Fabian Amparo.

Amparo placed 56th with a time of 18:40 on the 3-mile course.

“I’m super proud of him,” Thiele said. “He went out there and ran his best.”

Bulldog teammates Gonzalo Rivera (19:53), Kevin Wise (19:55), Jossue Portillo (20:05) and Brian Estrada (22:00) took 84th, 86th, 93rd and 138th, respectively.

Ceres High finished 16th overall in the team standings.

A newcomer to the sport, Ceres High varsity girls runner Diana Del Real just missed securing a berth to sections.

She placed 60th with a time of 23:20 on the 3-mile course.

“She ran an awesome race,” Thiele said. “She was competitive with the Los Banos girls who are usually quite a bit in front of her. That was exciting to see. If she would have run 4 seconds faster, she would have made it to sections. She worked super hard this year. Even when her shins were hurting, she never complained.”

Wendi Lizola (26:22), Elizabeth Mercado (28:15) and Jacqueline Rodriguez (28:30) took 101st, 121st and 123rd, respectively.

Rodriguez, a fourth-year runner, expected to turn in a better performance.

“She was running a great race until halfway through,” Thiele said. “She had a really bad stomach pain. She probably would have made it to sections if she didn’t have to slow down.”