Los Fresnos' Fish, Guillen look forward to state meet

Hard work and determination have brought Samantha Fish and David Guillen to the University Interscholastic League state cross country meet Saturday at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock.

Don’t count on either runner’s focus to fade once they hit the course.

Fish will be running in her last state race. The Falcons finished third as a team at district and were led by Fish, who finished first among girls and came in 11 seconds before the second-place finisher. Guillen finished third at the meet, sitting in the middle of a pack of Hanna runners — the eventual district champions.

Fish placed 27th at state as a freshman and battled injuries last season when the meet came around. She has learned from past miscues, putting her in a position to do some damage this time around.

"Last year she started off too fast and was very disappointed with her place," Los Fresnos coach Jennifer Gantt said. "Now she is healthy and determined to excel in her last race. "

The Los Fresnos cross country team isn’t just a two-person unit, though, and the squad includes four runners that finished in the top 15 in the district meet. While the team’s season ended at the regional meet, teammates were instrumental in getting Fish and Guillen to where they are today.

"The team feeds off of each other," Gantt said. "We don’t have just one leader."

The motivation was on full throttle at last weekend’s regional meet in San Antonio, where both Fish and Guillen posted their best times of the year. Fish placed third, running the course in 11 minutes, 42 seconds, and Guillen ran the 5K in 16:12 to finish ninth. Runners had to finish in the top 10 in the regional to qualify for the state meet.

Guillen, an underclassman, is at a high level early in his high school career. The course ahead will be a tough test but is not one that Gantt expects will rattle the sophomore.

"David will accept the challenge," Gantt said. "Being a sophomore the future is very bright for him."