Marco Villamarin has been hired to rebuild Ceres High School’s cross country program.

He replaced Owen Brown, who stepped down following a six-year stint as head coach of the Bulldogs.

Villamarin, 47, was a parent volunteer the past two seasons.

His twins sons, Elija and Isaiah, are currently members of the boys team.

“Last year during track season, coach Brown approached me, said he was going to step down, and asked me if I would be interested in coaching,” Marco Villamarin stated. “He convinced me to apply. To be able to coach is an honor. I don’t take it for granted.”

“I haven’t coached (cross country) before,” he added. “It’s going to be a new experience for me.”

The Bulldogs will compete with a thin roster for the third consecutive year.

“I hope the group we have now will inspire more (athletes) to come out,” coach Villamarin said. “The group we have is motivated. They’re hungry. They work really hard. They get along.”

“Having a good culture is important,” he added. “I don’t want to lose athletes. I want to encourage them and earn their trust. They’ll see results at the end. The offseason and unity makes a team.”

Ceres High has a combined 16 runners between its boys and girls teams this fall.

The Bulldogs had 18 participants in 2025 and 2024.

“This program has incredible potential, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to help guide these athletes toward becoming the best versions of themselves - both on and off the course,” coach Villamarin said. “What makes this role even more special is that my sons are part of my team. It motivates me to bring my best every single day - not just as a coach but as a father, mentor, and example.”

“I’m committed to creating an environment where athletes aren’t just running miles, but developing discipline, building mental strength, and learning how to set goals and achieve them,” he added. “I want them to understand that improvement is a daily choice, and that greatness is built step by step.”

Ceres High’s boys team has a roster size of nine runners, including Jonathan Estrada Ochoa (Jr.), Jayden Jaimes (Jr.), Elija Villamarin (Jr.), Isaiah Villamarin (Jr.), Joseph Estrada (So.), Aiden Gutierrez (So.), Abisai Elizarraraz (Fr.), Jeremiah Miranda (Fr.) and Jonathan Raya (Fr.).

“I’m excited about this year,” Marco Villamarin said. “We have a strong, young team. I’m really looking forward to the future.”

Jaimes, Estrada, Elija Villamarin and Isaiah Villamarin are returners.

Estrada Ochoa, Miranda, Raya and Abisai Elizarraraz are newcomers.

Jaimes and Elija Villamarin are team captains.

“They set a great example,” coach Villamarin said. “They ran during the summer. They’re self-motivated.”

Elija Villamarin took 45th with a time of 20 minutes, 13 seconds on the 3.1-mile course at the Western Athletic Conference Championships.

He placed 28th (13:36) at the Division-III Sophomore Sub-Section Meet and 29th (13:58) at the Section finals.

Jaimes took fifth (12:17) at the WAC Frosh-Soph Championships, 13th (12:56) at the Division-III Sophomore Sub-Section meet and 13th (13:17) at the Section finals.

Estrada and Isaiah Villamarin placed 43rd (15:43) and 46th (16:13), respectively, at the WAC Frosh-Soph Championships.

Isaiah Villamarin finished 85th (18:07) at the Division-III Sophomore Sub-Section meet.

Ceres High totaled 140 points while finishing in sixth place at the 2025 WAC Championships.

Beyer (30), Livingston (71), Pacheco (78), Lathrop (100) and Johansen (135) took first, second, third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

Grace Davis (191) finished seventh.

“We want to place higher as a team,” coach Villamarin said. “The boys are motivated. We’ll see how it goes.”

Kayla Munguia (Sr.), Clarissa Rivera (Sr.), Fernanda Robles (Sr.), Isabella Sabala (Sr.), Brianna Baltzer (Fr.), Danna Garduno (Fr.) and Iris Valencia (Fr.) make up Ceres High’s seven-person girls team.

“I want them to run their best when it counts,” coach Villamarin said.

Rivera and Sabala are team captains.

“They’re great leaders,” coach Villamarin said. “The team gravitates to them. They’re committed. They’re very responsible. They’re always prepared.”

Rivera and Sabala are returners.

Munguia, Robles, Baltzer, Garduno and Valencia are newcomers.

Rivera took 14th with a time of 22 minutes, 25 seconds on the 3.1-mile course at the 2025 Western Athletic Conference Championships.

She placed 14th (22:42) at the Division-II Sub-Section meet and 57th (22:59) at the Section finals.

Sabala finished 37th (28:15) at the WAC Championships and 107th (28:49) at the Division-II Sub-Section competition.

Ceres High did not post a team score at the conference finals due to a thin lineup.

Beyer (23), Livingston (55), Lathrop (71), Pacheco (93) and Central Valley (130) finished first, second, third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

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

“We’re looking at personal-bests in individual placement,” coach Villamarin said.

Originally from Los Angeles, Marco Villamarin graduated from Turlock High School in 1997. He earned five varsity letters with the Bulldogs, including three in cross country and two in track and field.

Villamarin continued his running career at Modesto Junior College (cross country, track and field) and Chico State (track and field).

“Cross country and track and field has shaped who I am,” coach Villamarin said. “It taught me discipline, resilience, and how to push through challenges, and now I get to pass that on to a new generation of runners.”

Villamarin earned a degree in communications from Chico State in 2007 as a first-generation college student.

He works as an inventory purchasing analyst for Stanislaus County.

“I adjusted my schedule for the season so I can go into work earlier and train the team as soon as they get out of school,” Marco Villamarin said.