Central Valley’s boys cross country program continued its run of consistency against Western Athletic Conference competition last week.

The Hawks posted a team score of 73 en route to a runner-up finish at the WAC Championships on Oct. 28 at Ceres River Bluff Regional Park.

Central Valley also took second at the conference’s first and second cluster meets.

Beyer (21) claimed the team title.

Livingston (97), Grace Davis (102), Johansen (113), Lathrop (129) and Pacheco (179) took third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively.

“I’m very happy,” Hawks’ head coach Horacio Garcia said. “It’s a huge improvement from last year. We tried to compete against Beyer. Unfortunately, injuries hurt us. We had to make adjustments to our lineup.”

Ceres High’s boys program did not post a team score due to a lack of numbers.

In cross country, five runners are needed to score as a team.

The Bulldogs had just two individual competitors as Elija Villamarin was sidelined with an injury.

“The kids that were here gave it their all,” Bulldogs’ leader Marco Villamarin stated. “That’s all I can ask for.”

Freshman Adrian Sanchez led Central Valley.

He placed 11th with a personal-best time of 18 minutes, 2 seconds on the 3.1-mile course.

“He PR’d by 40 seconds,” Garcia said. “It was a huge surprise. He outperformed our expectations.”

Sanchez took second while competing in the frosh-soph division at the conference’s first cluster meet.

Promoted to varsity for the conference’s second cluster meet, Sanchez placed 20th (18:25) as he struggled with the increased distance.

“Adrian wanted to prove he could run faster and he did,” Garcia said. “He’s really talented. Mentally, he’s very strong. He likes to run fast.”

Central Valley’s Enoc Reyes (18:05), Edgar Reyes (18:07), Carlos Castaneda (18:12), Armando Gutierrez (18:34), Diego Gutierrez (18:38), Julian Botero (19:11), Aayden Vang (20:02), Maximiliano Mendoza (20:09) and Javier Contreras finished 13th, 16th, 17th, 22nd, 23rd, 34th, 47th, 50th, and 59th, respectively.

The Hawks competed shorthanded at the WAC Championships as No. 1 runner Eliseo Madrigal suffered a season-ending calf injury earlier this year.

He also missed the conference’s second cluster meet.

“I knew we were still going to be competitive based on how much work the boys put in during the summer,” coach Garcia said. “The majority of them ran from June until now. They prepared really well.”

Jayden Jaimes led Ceres High.

He was awarded a medal after finishing in the top eight in the field.

“I’m not surprised at what Jayden did,” coach Villamarin said. “I know what he’s capable of. He’s got more to give.”

Jaimes placed fifth with a personal-best time of 17 minutes, 37 seconds on the 3.1-mile course.

“He finished ahead of a bunch of athletes he hadn’t beaten the last three years,” Marco Villamarin said.

Bulldog teammate Jonathan Estrada Ochoa (20:22) finished 54th.

He also set a personal record.

“For him to run the way he ran was not bad,” Villamarin said. “He was off for a week and a half. He had some other obligations with the school.”

Central Valley’s girls program totaled 91 points while taking fourth at the WAC Championships.

Beyer (17), Lathrop (67) and Livingston (87) placed first, second and third, respectively.

Pacheco (67) placed last.

Ceres High did not post a team score because of a lack of numbers.

The Hawks finished in last place during the WAC’s first two cluster meets.

“It’s a huge improvement,” Horacio Garcia said. “A big factor was Vanessa (Morales).”

Morales, a freshman, placed fourth with a time of 20 minutes, 3 seconds on the 3.1-mile course.

She broke the school record at the WAC finals.

“It’s not a surprise,” coach Garcia said. “She’s been performing well at the races she’s been able to go to. She’s very competitive. She doesn’t like to lose.”

Morales missed the WAC’s first two cluster meets of the season due to another school commitment and illness.

She posted the seventh-fastest time in Hughson Supercross Invitational history at the frosh-soph level the previous week.

“It’s her first year running,” Horacio Garcia said. “She’s enjoying the sport.”

Central Valley teammates Karen Magallon (20:49), Simran Bain (24:56), Camila Urena (25:58), McKenzy Crane (26:25) and Courtney Crane (37:20) finished ninth, 24th, 29th, 30thand 43rd, respectively.

Magallon, Bain, Urena and McKenzy Crane also set personal records.

Magallon missed medaling by one spot.

“I’m very happy with how everyone ran,” coach Garcia said. “All the work they put into the season paid off.”

Clarissa Rivera led the Bulldogs.

She placed 10th (20:54) on the 3.1-mile course.

Rivera bested her previous-best time at River Bluff by two-plus minutes.

“Clarissa was two places away from medaling,” Marco Villamarin said. “I know she’s very happy with her time.”

Ceres High teammate Fernanda Robles (36:04) finished 42nd.

“For someone that’s never run (cross country) before, she did great,” coach Villamarin said. “It was very impressive. She’s a competitor. She works hard and never complains.”