The 2023 Cross Country season ran for the final time at Round Rock, Texas. The day given to us was a Chamber of Commerce weather day.
The boys entered the day as the defending State Champion and were ranked second at the start. The quote which was written to the boys was by Vince Lombardi. You feel your age when you have to explain who Vince Lombardi was. “We run to win, not just be in the race.” The boys got out well and at the first 800m tree they were between 2:07 and 2:14. As the race progressed, the mile and two-mile progress had Lytle leading. At the two mile point our lads were between 14 and 36th. However, that last mile we ran but Great Oaks ran better. When the dust settled, Lytle was beaten by five points to end this season in 2nd.
Name – First Mile – Second Mile – Final
- Abel Sanchez – 16:44 19th place – 5:02.1 (15th) – 10:34.9 (+1) – 16:44.9 (-5)
- Bryan Montes – 16:46 20th place – 5:11.7 (40th) – 10:43.0 (+14) – 16:46.2 (+5)
- Johnny Alvarez – 17:04 29th place – 5:02.0 (14th) – 10:45.2 (-15) – 17:04.5 (-1)
- Tristan Lopez – 17:09 34th place – 5:10.8 (37th) – 10:52.3 (+2) – 17:09.3 (-)
- Yandel Esquivez – 17:20 43rd place – 5:13.1 (44th) – 10:53.6 (+6) – 17:20.3 (-5)
- Brandon Obando – 17:41 71st place – 5:11.9 (42nd) – 11:06.9 (-23) – 17:41.6 (-7)
- Lucas Salazar – 17:55 81st place – 5:26.5 (91st) – 11:23.5 (-1) – 17:55.5 (+10)
The boys left second in the State, but it was a bittersweet trophy. The team from Great Hearts was beaten by this team at the Regional race two weeks prior by six points. Hopefully, we learned a lesson from another quote from Vince Lombardi, “The strength of the group is the strength of the leaders.” We have five of the boys returning to run next year along with a strong Junior Varsity team. Next year we will have eyes on a third State title, but it would have been nice to go back-to-back.
The Lady Pirates began the day sitting fourth in the end of the season poll. Each lady would have to give their best to repeat as a medalist. Coach Ruiz told the team before we left for the day that if we ran as we should, something good could happen but if we ran excellent something special could happen. The young team consisting of one senior, three sophomores and three freshmen qualified for the State Meet by placing second in the Regional Meet behind Poth and the other Pirates. Rudyard Kipling in his work The Jungle book states, “The strength of the wolf is the pack, and the strength of the pack is the wolf.” Today the ladies showed the strength of Lytle by running as a group. At the mile, the ladies were seventh overall in the running score, but they were close together. All seven ladies were between 5:50 and 6:21. A thirty-one second split. The race began after the first mile. Each lady had goals to catch certain runners. As they came across the finish line, they were asked if they had met their goal. Each one could say they met their goal and ran their best. The ladies not only were the best team from Region IV (Beating #2 Poth) on this day, but with their exceptional effort, they were awarded the third-place medal as a team, beating Dalhart by one point, 161 to 162. If it had come to a tie, we would have won because our sixth runner and seventh runner beat Dalhart’s sixth runner.
Name – 1st Mile – 2nd Mile
- Frankie Scotello – 12:25 28th place – 5:53.6 (22nd) – 12:25.8 (-6)
- Klayre Cook – 12:47 52nd place – 6:04.9 (54th) – 12:47.8 (+2)
- Samantha Mujica – 12:52 SEASON BEST 55th place – 6:10.9 (75th) – 12:52.0 (+20)
- Vanessa Ayala – 13:03 PERSONAL RECORD 67th place – 6:20.4 (97th) – 13:03.7 (+30)
- Laleina Reveira – 13:16 81st place – 6:16.6 (86th) – 13:16.7 (+5)
- Svetlana Lopez – 13:17 82nd place – 6:16.6 (87th) – 13:17.3 (+5)
- Addison Wagner – 13:21 PERSONAL RECORD 91st place – 6:24.7 (108th) – 13:21.3 (+17)
This is the second year that the ladies have placed in the top three. It is the third time we have been to the State Meet as a team and Coach Ruiz considers this one of his greatest accomplishments as a coach. This young team has had some major obstacles and growth pains to overcome this season. However, at the end of the year the freshmen were no longer freshmen and sophomores stepped up into leadership roles.
I would like to thank Coach Ruiz for allowing me to write the State highlights. I get the honor of letting the seniors know how special they are to the family that is Lytle Cross Country.
SENIORS
Brandon Obando and Abel Sanchez are the two seniors who donned the Lytle CC singlet for the final time. In 8th Grade their team had eleven runners. This Junior High team won every Meet their 8th grade year. Brandon and Abel are the final two runners who finished the season. Both boys have run at the State race for four years. Their teams finished 4th, 3rd, 1st and 2nd. I guess they wanted a complete set of State medals.
Brandon’s first State race was run in 18:16 and he finished 109th. He walks off the course as the District Champion this year. He has medaled in all four of the Regional races as a member of the Lytle team and last year he medaled sixth at the Regional race.
Abel finished his first State race in 17:54 and finished 96th. He has medaled in all four Regional races as a team and has medaled 6th as an individual in the Regional race.
The other senior who finished from the group of eleven is Daniel Mercado. Daniel finished his season helping the Junior Varsity to claim the District title with a perfect score. Daniel in his freshman year competed in the State Meet. Cross Country is a sport that weeds out those who aren’t willing to dedicate themselves every day to becoming better. It takes a heart that drives an athlete through the pains of the sport and through the storms of life.
Samantha Mujica is the one senior from an 8th Grade District Championship team that had 8 runners. Runners from this team moved and found other interests. Samantha stayed through the seasons. I was given a sixth-grade class to teach when Samantha came to Lytle. She was a beautiful sixth grade young lady who came to Lytle from a San Antonio Parochial school. The transition was not easy, but I have come to see God’s hand is moves. Samantha began running Cross Country in seventh grade and her magnetism had seven other girls join her. As this season began, she was the only one who remained. As the season progressed, her smile and joy seemed to fade. She was dealing with more than planter fasciitis in her foot. She was carrying a burden which was weighing on her. Finally, she shared with Coach Ruiz near the end of the season her mother was dealing with Bladder Cancer. We as a family began to lift her up in prayers and support. Coach Ruiz gave her and her mom pink Cross Country hoodies. He gave the team bracelets to honor Samantha and her mom. Samantha leaves the competition of Cross Country as a three-time State Runner as a team. She received a team medal last year and this year as a third-place team. In probably her greatest race, she medaled 10th at the Regional Cross Country race. As she crossed the State finish line she burst into tears. As she left the course after receiving her medal, she told me goodbye with the smile that had been missing most of the season. Coaching’s greatest reward is for smiles and relationships with athletes like Samantha.
For the second year in a row, the Lytle Cross Country teams have returned from Round Rock with two state trophies. This is not done in a vacuum. This team is fashioned through hard work. The hard work of the teachers who instruct the athletes. The hard work of the Administration of Lori Wilson and her athletic leadership, Mrs. Stewart and Mrs. Smith, both ladies who are so instrumental in setting the desire of excellence. The hard work of the custodial staff who keep the locker rooms clean, the cafeteria workers who prepare our snacks and meals. The hard work of Armando to keep the buses running and Mr. Cross and his staff for maintaining the grounds we run on. The support of the Elementary and Primary to support the teams with send offs. It takes a district to perform at the highest levels.
Finally, thanks to the parents who support their children so much. This includes an honorary parent of the Mayor of Lytle. He greets the athletes as they get off the bus and supports the team by send offs and escorts back into Lytle. Thanks to the athletes who have bought into the picture of Lytle Cross Country. As a coach, I can never speak enough thanks to all those who make this program state recognized.
“Run the Race.”
See more photos here:
State XC Meet 11-03-2023 photos by Nathan Garza and Deborah Wagner