The members of Central Valley’s cross country program closed out the Central California Conference season this past month.
The Hawks competed at the CCC Championships on Oct. 27 at Golden Valley High School.
“Everyone brought their A-game and left it all out there,” head coach Michael Mrgudic said.
Central Valley’s varsity boys totaled 119 points while finishing fifth overall in the team standings.
The Hawks topped the El Capitan Gauchos (169) and Pacheco Panthers (no score).
Atwater (29), Buhach Colony (30), Golden Valley (93) and Merced (116) took first, second, third and fourth, respectively.
“It was consistent with how we’ve been finishing since the first league meet,” Mrgudic said. “There was some individual progression.”
“We were three points away from beating Merced,” he added. “The guys put up a good fight out there.”
Alfredo Garcia paced the Hawks.
He placed 22nd with a time of 19 minutes, 12 seconds on the 3.1-mile course.
“Alfredo had the greatest progression,” Mrgudic said. “He’s a hard worker. He’s a competitor. He wants to be the best.”
Central Valley teammates Roberto Rosales (19:12), Alexander Contreras (19:39), Armando Guajardo (20:30), Daniel Soares (22:18), Kevin Lee (22:22) and Jonathan Macias (23:24) finished 23rd, 26th, 33rd, 42nd, 43rd and 46th, respectively.
Central Valley’s youth-laden varsity girls team placed sixth.
The Hawks totaled 148 points.
Atwater (41), Buhach Colony (43), Merced (75), El Capitan (114) and Golden Valley (119) took first, second, third, fourth and fifth, respectively.
“I’m happy with how we raced,” Mrgudic said. “Everyone ran the best they could.”
Senior Ashley Anaya paced Central Valley with a 20th-place showing (23:04).
Freshmen Mariana Campos (24:07), Keilany Torres (29:06) and Yahaira Torres (33:04) finished 25th, 40th and 43rd, respectively.
Junior Claudia Aguilar (29:09) was 41st.
“Ashley’s been our top girl every week,” Mrgudic said. “She’s a hard worker. She always gives a great effort.”
The Hawks had two runners compete in the frosh-soph boys division.
Jackson Stokes paced Central Valley.
He took 25th with a time of 15 minutes, 15 seconds on the 2-mile course.
Joshua Michelena (16:00) was 32nd.
Mixed results for Dawgs
The members of Ceres High’s cross country program showed improvement while competing at the Western Athletic Conference Championships on Oct. 27 in Los Banos.
“I’m not dissatisfied because all of our runners are making progress if you compare their times from earlier this season,” head coach Owen Brown said.
The Bulldogs posted a team score of 222 en route to a last-place finish during the varsity boys race.
Beyer (15), Mountain House (65), Grace Davis (68), Los Banos (116), Johansen 141) and Lathrop (170) finished first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively.
Eddie Ortiz led Ceres High’s shorthanded squad.
He took 22nd with a time of 19 minutes, 37 seconds on the 3-mile course at O’Neil Forebay.
Adrian Ontiveros (20:29), Cesar Bolanos (20:37), Diego Ayala (21:55), Elijah Vas Dinis (22:57), Nathan Martin (23:34), Eduardo Garcia (25:16) and Alejandro Plantillas (32:12) placed 27th, 29th, 34th, 43rd, 44th, 51st and 55th, respectively.
“There were a lot of PRs,” Brown said.
Ceres High’s varsity girls didn’t post a team score due to a lack of numbers.
Evelyn Alvarez was the Bulldogs’ top finisher.
He placed 17th with a time of 26 minutes, 56 seconds.
Jayda Bryant (31:36) took 30th.
Bulldog Jaden Stahl won a third-place medal during the frosh-soph girls race.
She posted a time of 15 minutes, 02 seconds on the 2-mile course.
Stahl took second at the WAC’s second and third cluster meets.
“She has some natural ability,” Brown said. “She has a decent work ethic. That has brought her success.”
Ceres High teammates Alexa Romo (19:05) and Maricela Saavedra (20:59) finished 30th and 38th, respectively.
The Bulldogs totaled 156 points on their way to a sixth-place showing during the frosh-soph boys race.
Erick Valladares led Ceres High.
He was 18th (13:20).
Salvador Erenas (14:04), Simon Pezzoni (15:16), Gabriel Sandoval (15:24), Aaron Lopez (15:31), Erik Bonilla (17:58) and Alexander Vas Dinis (20:09) finished 22nd, 39th, 41st, 42nd, 57th and 62nd, respectively.
