Defined Goal: PSJA North eyes regional crown

PHARR — The PSJA North girls cross country team traditionally is one of the best in the Rio Grande Valley, and it doesn’t appear to be any different this year as the Lady Raiders have set the bar high for the upcoming District 31-5A meet.

North has won five straight district championships, been regional runner-up two years in a row and has been a state finalist four consecutive years. And with the Lady Raiders eyeing yet another district title, they have their goals set a little higher.

They want to win the regional championship as well, a feat no PSJA North girls cross country team has achieved. But coach Yesenia Cuellar believes her team can break that barrier this year.

“This is the best team we’ve ever had,” she said. “We’ve won almost every single meet except for the Ricardo Romo Cross Country Classic in San Antonio in which we lost by seven points, but all the other meets we’ve won and that has never happened before.”

North has produced some of the best runners for deep South Texas in recent history, and every year it has built on the winning tradition.

Leading the newest pack of Lady Raiders is senior Starla Garcia. Her leadership and commitment to the team has made her a valuable asset, and has helped pave the way for some of the younger girls on the team.

“I’m very happy that the team is here day in and day out, giving their best,” Garcia said. “It makes me want to try harder and be even better for them. We have a very strong team this year, and I’m confident the tradition will not be let down.”

Cuellar knows success does not come easy. That is why she had the team work hard throughout the summer to prepare them mentally and physically in grueling workouts every day. Now that the school year is under way, she has the team run at 7 every morning before school begins and then the team runs again after school for a lighter workout.

But Cuellar believes it’s more about the psychological aspect of the sport.

“It’s mostly feeling positive and trusting one another,” the second-year Lady Raiders coach said. “If they trust one another then they’re going to perform well for one another, and I think that is the key to our success.”

The team is coming off a big victory at the McNeil Invitational on Oct. 6 in Austin, an event North had not won until this year. The accomplishment has fueled the confidence and expectations of the Lady Raiders.

“We don’t want to get too overconfident, but just stay humble,” she said. “We need to keep the winning tradition going, but at the same time not lose focus of our goals.”