Bright and early Saturday morning, August 29, the cross country season for Indian
athletes began at home in the Red River Showdown. The Showdown, which has grown
throughout the years into a large meet, hosted runners from Lone Grove, Lindsay,
Kingston, Silo, Madill, Calera, Turner, Whitebead Middle School, Ardmore, Tishomingo,
Sulphur, Coleman, Washington, Atoka, and Vanoss.
Middle school runner Adiel Morales was the best finisher of the day for the Indians,
running in second place in the 3200 meter run of 80 runners with a time of 11:46.30.
Teammate Giovonnie Martinez also finished in the top 20 with a team of 13:03.00.
Other runners on the middle school boys’ team include Jaxon Wolfe, Camilo
Maldonado, Jesus Salas, and Cristian Ariaz. The MS boys’ team finished in fifth place.
In the middle school girls’ 2400 meter run, Lady Indian Brynn Wilson finished in 13 th
place among 100 runners with a time of 11:47.50. Wilson was the only MS Lady Indian
to finish in the top 20. Other MS Lady Indian runners were Jarely Reyes, Crystal
Sanchez, Ailyn Flores, Ciclalih Barrientos, Madilyn Ariaz, Daleyzah Barrientos, Ruby
Fermin, and Lotus Partin. The team finished seventh.
In the high school girls 3200 meter run, Lady Indian runner Cielo Salas, a freshman,
finished 12 th out of 77 runners with a time of 13:03.70. Running with Salas on Saturday
were Liliana Fernandez, Tatum Choate, Allie Bruce, Mia Bojorquez, Lucero Sanchez,
Aubreigh Gomez, Jolie Baker, Allison Santibanez, Dayana Garcia, and Daisy Myranda.
The team finished in fifth place.
Senior Indian runner Tripp Presley led his team with a time of 18:58.20 in the 5000
meter run. Presley finished in eighth place out of 102 runners, the only MHS Indian to
finish in the top 20. Other members of the high school boys’ team running on Saturday
were Kevin Sanchez, Miguel Aldaba, Aron Ramirez, Moises Caicedo, Rogelio Rueda,
David Reyes, and Misael Martinez. The team finished in seventh place.
“Our kids didn’t finish as well as we would have liked, but we did have several kids who
ran well, and we have already seen some improvement since the beginning of the year,”
said Head Coach/AD Tanica Anderson. “If we keep on working, we will keep on
improving throughout the season.”
Anderson expressed gratitude to the team parents for all their help with the meet, along
with Halls Produce Heaven for donating fruit for all the athletes and coaches.