With the biggest day of the high school cross country season just a hours away, I will preview the four district races based of the results of the Chamizal race two weeks ago. Here is a look at District 1-5A:
Girls:
The two biggest things here are the impressive Eastwood girls as they prepare to make a good run at regionals and who will win individually. You have the freshman Shannon Luevano looking good, but last year it was Diane Bocklage who finished runner-up. You would think she doesn't want to do that again.
Individuals:
1. Shannon Luevano, Hanks
2. Diane Bocklage, Coronado
3. Stephanie Soto, El Dorado
Teams:
1. Eastwood: 4-5-8-11-13-16*-29*— 41 points.
X-Factor: No. 2 runner Melanie Stires. At the beginning of the season Stires was coming off an injury and there was question if she'd be ready by district. Well I think she is more than ready and more importantly, still has the capability to improve more. She can make Eastwood victory more certain.
2. El Dorado: 3-7-10-18-20-21*-22*—58 points.
X-Factor: No. 7 Bonnie Perez. As a freshman, Perez looked like she had what it takes to be a premiere runner in El Paso. However, she has struggled this year and others have stepped up in her absence from the top pack. If Perez can get back to form, she can help her team upset Eastwood.
3. Hanks: 1-6-26-31-40-49*-56*— 104 points.
X-Factor: No. 3 Ashley Gil. The gap between No. 2 Shannon McMillian and Gil is pretty big. Big enough to fit a team, and don't think Montwood and Americas won't try. If Gil can close the gap, she can insure a trip to regionals for her team.
4. Montwood: 9-30-32-33-39-42*-53*—143 points
X-Factor: No. 3 Marylin Medina. Last year Medina approached the Top 10, this year she finished 65th at the Chamizal. If Medina can catch up to Sarah Colorado then the Rams will have big decrease in points and perhaps more runners will follow. Maybe they can challenge Hanks.
5. Americas: 12-14-23-44-50-51*-54*—143 points.
X-Factor: No. 5 Rebecca Gutierrez. Americas is a tough team and if Montwood can't upend Hanks for third the Trialblazers will try. Gutierrez had better showings earlier this season. Perhaps the Chamizal was just a bad race. If she kicks it to the next gear... watch out.
6. Franklin: 24-25-28-34-37-46*-55*—148 points.
X-Factor: No. 1 Alex Juarez. Is it just me or does it seem that both Franklin squads had bad races at the Chamizal or maybe took it easy. Either way, Juarez has been closer to the front all season and if she pushes the pace then she has an entire team moving up with her and Hanks may be in sight.
7. Socorro: 17-27-41-42-47-52*-61*—174 points.
X-Factor: No. 3 Sarah Shepherd. Socorro has been hot and cold all year. So this race will come to strategy and execution. Shepherd is a perfect point guard in the situation as the middle scorer and a catalyst to close a 14-point gap. The Bulldogs can make up some points if she moves up.
8. Coronado: 2-19-38-57-58-60*-62*—174 points.
X-Factor: No. 4 Sarah Salas. The T-Birds didn't look good at the Chamizal and in fact had four of the last six runners in 1-5A at the Chamizal. Salas has had better runs before and maybe a smaller race will help her. Either way, the rest of the team can't wait for Bocklage to do all the work.
9. Bel Air: 15-35-36-45-48-59*-63*—179 points.
X-Factor: No. 1 Kassandra Pallares. The Highlanders have struggled this season. But look at where Pallares finishes, 15th. She can make a move to get Top 10 and punch her ticket to Regionals. Lets see if the team can help her out and at the same time get better results themselves.
Boys:
Montwood has an edge as a team, but from there it gets quite interesting. 1-5A may be a little down in speed this year, however the team race is amazing. Strategy and teamwork has never been more important in a cross country race this season.
Individuals:
1. Jadon Rankin, Americas
2. Dorian Miranda, Montwood
3. Angel De La Cruz, Montwood
Teams:
1. Montwood: 1-2-6-11-18-23*—38 points.
X-Factor: No. 5 Luis Romero. The Rams are looking like a lock for the district title, but the Gigi Hernandez to Romero gap is too big, and they will need that closed for regionals. District can be a dry run for Montwood. They are the best shot 1-5A has at going to state.
2. Eastwood: 5-16-17-19-20-25*-42*—77 points.
X-Factor: No. 2 Ivan Hernandez. Eastwood runs very well, but in the final mile, Juan Blanco pulls away from the rest, which are led by Hernandez. The rest of the team stays close to him. So lets see if Hernandez can stay closer to Blanco and pull the rest of the team.
3. Coronado: 10-13-14-21-22-24*-28*—80 minutes.
X-Factor: No. 3 Zach Bassett. Bassett has been the closet thing to a No. 1 that Coronado has had, but in this case thats a good thing. The T-Birds runners have been so close together its seems that anyone can finish 1-7. Bassett has the drive of the team and if he learned from the Chamizal race he can enter the Top 10 and push his team to a better finish.
4. El Dorado: 4-7-30-32-35—108 points.
X-Factor: Someone's missing. El Dorado has one more runner who should be the team's No. 3. If he is available for district and on his game then the Aztecs will drop points. El Dorado will be coming for Coronado, but if they leave a hole, the the T-Birds will settle in it.
5. Socorro: 3-9-29-34-38-44*—113 points.
X-Factor: No. 2 David Urquidi. Socorro isn't the same team as last year, but they do have talent and veteran savvy with two top runners. However, while Urquidi can make regionals, along with Juan Salazar, he can also motivate and push his teammates. Lets see if he can will them to challenge for third.
6. Franklin: 15-26-27-33-37-39*-47*—138 points.
X-Factor: No. 5 Michael Nieman. How do you go from Top 5 at district in 2008 to projected 37th in 2009. Well, maybe it was a bad race two weeks ago or just a jog. Either way expect Franklin to come out firing on Saturday and Nieman has been there before four times. He can greatly effect his team's place.
7. Bel Air: 8-36-40-43-46-50*-52*—173 points.
X-Factor: No. 1 Neal Apodaca. You know I have this feeling that Apodaca is going to have a great race on Saturday, and that is why he is the X-Factor. His team is struggling but lets see if he can make this race very interesting all by himself.
8. Hanks: 12-31-41-45-48-49*-51—177.
X-Factor: No. 1 John LaBianca. I really enjoy seeing LaBianca run. He is four spots shy of the Top 10 and I would like to bet he digs down deep and pull it off. His team is young and has time to improve, but maybe he can set the tone here.
*Americas: 111 points with four runner.
X-Factor: A fifth man. Despite not running a full team, Americas showed what they are made of. Rankin is the hands down best runner in 1-5A and should win. If you get a fifth runner they automatically finish seventh and if he can break up a 35-point gap from No. 2 to 3, Americas can become even more competitive.
Well that is all. I am hoping I will be able to see some good racing at district. Knowing this town and its all-state talent, I don't think I will be disappointed.
Good luck to all.
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