Meet of champs went well

The first Meet of Champions was a success, according to Rio Grande Valley Cross Country Coaches Association officials.

"The majority of teams in the Valley showed up," Edinburg North coach Homer Martinez said. Martinez is the president of the RGVCCA.

"It's also good preparation for district meets, which are coming up," he said."

RGVCCA secretary Jaime Vasquez of Brownsville Hanna said preliminary count showed around 1,000 runners took part in the event, including JV and freshman levels.

"It was a very good atmosphere," Vasquez said. "It was almost like a pre-regional meet."

Vasquez said the RGVCCA has been in touch with some local businesses for sponsorships for future meets.
On the course, the event provided an opportunity for the Valley's top runners to showcase their skills.
McAllen Memorial's Tricia Terry and Mercedes' Alex De La Garza showed they are the best individuals in the area as they each won their respective elite divisions with a winning margin of more than 20 seconds over the second place finishers.
Among the teams, the PSJA North boys ran away with the elite division with the Edinburg High girls were comfortable winners as well.

"Overall, it went very well," Vasquez said. "We're looking forward to next year."     

STATE BOUND
Brownsville St. Joseph will take part in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools state cross country meet today at Baylor University in Waco. The Lady Bloodhounds, paced by Katrina Lambert won the Class 1A, 2A, 3A and private school girls division at the MOC and Andres Delgado was the boys' individual winner in the same division.

TOP 10
Here's this week's top 10, based on the finish in the elite division at the MOC. Boys: 1. PSJA North; 2. Edinburg North; 3. Mercedes; 4. Sharyland; 5. Brownsville Hanna; 6. Edinburg High; 7. Harlingen High; 8. PSJA Memorial; 9. Weslaco East; 10. Valley View. Girls: 1. Edinburgh High; 2. McAllen Memorial; 3. PSJA North; 4. Sharyland; 5. La Feria; 6. Zapata; 7. Edinburg North; 8. Mission Veterans; 9. Rio Grande City; 10. San Benito.

ON TAP
District meets start next week, today has the Harlingen Invitational at the Harlingen Sports Complex.

(Paul Conatzer covers cross country for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4442 or via e-mail at pconatzer@themonitor.com.)