Last season, the girls’ varsity cross-country team was extremely close to becoming league champions. Unfortunately, as in the previous two years, they missed it by just a few points.
The team finished in 3rd place in the Gabilan Division of the PCAL, and made it to CCS, finishing 8th in Division 1. Most of the girls are back this season, losing only one to graduation; however, the season is still looking very strong. “We have a very strong core returning this year and next,” Head Coach Steven Muñoz said.
The goals this season, according to Muñoz, are the same as it has been for the past few years, to win the first-ever league title. Muñoz is very confident in one runner who might potentially qualify for the State Meet. “I hope to get Yaretzi Cornelio to qualify for the State Meet,” he said. “[She] would be [one of] the first girls from Alisal to qualify for state in cross-country since 2008 (Dariani Salvador).”
The most promising runners this season, according to Muñoz, are senior Bethzi Velasquez; juniors Angelica Murillo, Kelly Vaca, Erika Castro, Adelaida Cortez; and sophomores Yaretzi Cornelio, and Alondra Rios. “We have a strong core of girls who have returned this year and have a lot of experience at the varsity level, as most of them have run varsity since their freshman year,” Muñoz said. “I believe the team’s strengths are that we are a big group and seem intimidating,” Murillo said.
The first Center Meet of the season was a great success for the girls at Palo Corona. They came in second in their division and were just 5 points from first. Cornelio was able to finish the race first, finishing with a time of 20:16. “We have had a great group of runners who run as a close pack throughout the race. This was the first year in a long time that we’ve had a front-runner like Yaretzi,” Muñoz said, “Having a front-runner helps bring down our points and pushes the pack to move up in the race.”
The goals for these athletes this season are to improve and grow. “My goals for this season are to break 21 since I didn’t do cross my junior year,” Velsaquez said. “It’s been a little hard to start where I left off, but I’m seeing progress as the days go by.” Vaca said “My goal for this season is to finish the season strong. Our team goal would be to win league championships for the first time ever in school history.”
Overall, the team is looking very strong, especially after winning Center Meet 3. Muñoz said, “I feel very confident that our girls can win their first-ever league title. However, there is still a lot of work to be done these next two weeks to make it happen. These girls are determined and nearly all of them have raced in a varsity championship these past couple of years. They will be ready.”
