Marietta Junior High Cross Country teams finished their season on October 12 at the Chickasha All-Star Meet with the girls in fourth place overall and the boys’ team in sixth place.
“The All-Star Meet is the closes thing that junior high teams have to a state meet,” explained Head Coach Tanica Anderson. “Both teams ran against the best runners in the state in Class 3A, both public and private schools.”
Going into the All-Star Meet, the girls’ team had been on a hot streak, with only one loss on the season, and that by only one point. The JH Lady Indians lost their home meet, the season’s first, and then won at Madill, the Lake County Conference Meet, Velma, and Norman, all in convincing fashion.
“We didn’t win on Thursday, but they competed well, and I’m proud of them for the way they ran,” said Anderson. “Some of those teams were teams we hadn’t seen this season, and they were good, but our kids gave it their all.”
Among the 125 runners in the 1.5 mile race, placers for the Lady Indians were Cielo Salas in sixth place with a time of 9:37.87, Liliana Fernandez in eighth place in 10:18.32, Amari Barrios in 23rd in 10:29.10, Mia Bojorquez in 26th place in 10:34.46, and Capri Finch in 27th place in 10:35.46.
Anderson is pleased with the effort of the team this season.
“These girls worked hard all season,” insisted Anderson. “They set goals to improve their times and win as many meets as they could. They are a great group of hard-working girls, and we are happy with the season they had.”
Of the five placers at Thursday’s meet, four will return to the team next year, leaving the JH Lady Indians loaded with talent for the 2024 season.
Eighth graders Liliana Fernandez, Allison Aldava, and Bailey Lane will move to the high school team next year. Although the mileage for races increases, Anderson looks for good things.
“It will be an adjustment for these girls because the races bump up from 1.5 miles to two miles, but I feel like once they get in the groove of distance, they’ll adapt just fine,” stated Anderson. “With the drive they have, I believe they will improve the high school team.”
For the junior high Indians, Thursday’s finish was the high point of what’s been an up-and-down season.
“For them to come out in their last meet and place in the top ten when running against the best teams in the state, we’re very happy with that,” Anderson remarked.
Placing for the Indians were Akzel Fernandez in 18th place with a time of 13:11.90, Asael Barrientos in 23rd with 13:22.49, Joshua Recio in 45th with 14:21.31, Keegan Roach in 58th with 15:20,96, and David Reyes in 60th with 15:39.34.
Barrientos and Recio, along with Caleb Castaneda will be moving to high school, a jump in mileage from 2 miles to 3.1 miles.
“I do feel like they have the potential to make a real contribution on the high school team,” said Anderson.
Several team members, including Fernandez, Roach, and Reyes will remain on the JH team for next season.
“So much of the success for a cross country team is based on how hard kids are willing to work,” Anderson stated, “but we do have the talent, so we’re hoping for a successful season for our junior high teams again next year.”