NEWMAN - As the Orestimba High School cross-country teams are getting close to the finish line in competing in Trans-Valley League meets, the regular season, they also have their minds on the postseason.
Within 24 hours toward the end of last week, the Warriors competed at two invitationals. One of which was located in the heart of the Central Valley.
Here are the results of those meets.
Hughson Supercross Invitational
On Saturday, Orestimba competed at the 20th annual Hughson Supercross Invitational at Hughson High.
The run, according to Orestimba head coach Scott Felber, was fun for all runners, no matter what level they were running.
“The run has a mud pit in the middle,” Felber said. “It’s a good one for us to have some fun near the end of the season. They had a good time.”
For the varsity girls, Jade Carmona, a sophomore, had an 8th place finish in the 2.4 miles course with a time of 16 minutes, 52.7 seconds. There were 108 girls who competed in this race.
In the varsity black division, which was also 2.4 miles, for the boys, the Warriors’ Nijah Wakefield, a freshman, took 78th place at 17:20.9. Christopher Noquez, a sophomore, had an 82nd placing as he was clocked at 17:35.2.
Rough Rider Invitational
On Friday at Woodward Park in Fresno, which is the site of the California Interscholastic Federation State Cross-Country Championships held every November, the Warriors got a taste of what the course features rolling hills, dirt trails, grass and asphalt.
“We went there to get a look at the course,” Felber said. “It was a good experience for the team (s).”
In the varsity girls small school division, Carmona finished with a 31st place finish at 21:08.0.
Samantha De La Cruz, a senior, came in at 61st place clocked at 22:28.0. Kiera Patterson, a freshman, was 74th at 23:15.0. Another freshman in Christine Rodriguez had a 155th place at 27:16.0 and Janetly Vega, a sophomore, 159th at 27:39.0.
As a team, Orestimba took an 11th place finish with 335 points out of 20 high schools. Ponderosa, out of Shingle Springs in El Dorado County, won with 74 points.
Moving to the varsity boys small school division, Benjamin Cerna, a sophomore, was 71st at 17:50.0. Joseph Garcia, a senior, had an 82nd place finish at 17:58.0. Emmanuel Garabito took 116th place with an 18:35.0 time and Hunter Saunders 126th at 18:45. Noguez was 270th at 24:13.
The Warriors, as a team, ran to an 18th place finish with 520 points. Avenal took first place at 90 points and Ponderosa second at 105. There were 35 schools that recorded team points.
Upcoming meets
The Orestimba teams return to TVL action on Wednesday, competing at Westside rival Hilmar starting at 3:05 p.m.
This Saturday, the Warriors will also compete at the Flat Sac Invitational at Gibson Ranch Regional Park
Contact Mike Bush at mikebushmedia@gmail.com. Follow him on X/Twitter @MikeBMultimedia and Instagram @mikebushmedia.
