Ceres High’s youth-laden varsity girls cross country team posted the second best score at the Western Athletic Conference Championships last Wednesday at Ceres River Bluff Regional Park.

The Bulldogs totaled 64 points on their way to finishing ahead of Lathrop (75), Beyer (99), Pacheco (128), Johansen (138) and Mountain House (154).

Los Banos (26) claimed the team title in dominant fashion.

“They’re so young,” Ceres High head coach Katie Thiele said while talking about her team’s future. “They still have so much potential. They’re going to get faster.”

Freshman Karina Baez paced the Bulldogs at the WAC finals.

She took home a seventh-place medal.

Baez completed the 3-mile race in a personal-best time of 23 minutes, 11 seconds.

“It’s a huge accomplishment to medal as a freshman,” Thiele said. “I knew she could do it. She’s got the determination and physique.”

Ceres High teammates Destiny Suarez (23:43), Carmen Ramirez (24:19), Jacqueline Rodriguez (25:41), Andrea Contreras (25:50), Elizabeth Mercado (27:06), Deborah Vasquez (28:15), Gabby Soto (28:54), Emily Marquez (28:57 and Marissa Prestia (31:31) placed ninth place, 11th, 17th, 20th, 29th, 39th, 42nd, 43rd and 56th, respectively.

Suarez, a veteran runner, almost medaled.

“She gave it her all,” Thiele said.

Ceres HIgh finished second behind Los Banos in the WAC overall standings and during the conference dual-season this fall.

“Being that they’re mostly underclassmen, it’s a huge accomplishment for them to reach that high,” Thiele said. “It’s a stepping stone for next season.”